A federal judge will hear arguments Friday in a lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's new press restrictions. The Department of Defense implemented a policy last September requiring journalists to pledge not to report any information without official approval, even if unclassified. Major news outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN refused to sign the agreement.

Several organizations called the policy a gag order that violates First Amendment rights and limits reporting on how the nearly $1 trillion federal department spends taxpayer money. The New York Times escalated the dispute by filing a lawsuit, arguing the policy seeks to restrict journalists from asking questions and gathering information from government employees. Pentagon leadership has faced coverage it views as unfavorable and responded by adopting a policy that could jettison journalists whose reporting the Department disfavors.

The Pentagon defends the restrictions as reasonable and necessary for national security. Both a Pentagon spokesperson and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have stated that access to the building is "a privilege, not a right." The timing is notable as the Pentagon manages ongoing military operations in Iran, though NBC News reports the department allowed them to attend recent briefings despite credential restrictions.