The Daily Fuckup

A federal judge on July 1 temporarily blocked the Pentagon from enforcing its reporter-escort requirement in a lawsuit brought by The New York Times, putting the policy on hold while the case continues.

U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman’s ruling is not a final decision on the merits. It follows earlier rounds of litigation over the Defense Department’s revised media policy, including a March 20 district court ruling, the Pentagon’s March 23 revised policy, and an April 27 appellate decision that allowed the escort rule to remain in effect during appeal.

The exact reach of Friedman’s order was not immediately clear. The wording suggested the immediate relief could be limited to the Times journalists who sued, but the practical scope for the broader Pentagon press corps was still uncertain pending further court action.

The Pentagon has described the escort rule as a security measure. News organizations and press-freedom advocates have said it makes independent reporting harder by requiring journalists to move under supervision rather than freely through the building. The dispute now returns to court as the government and the newspaper continue fighting over how much access reporters can have inside one of Washington’s most closely watched buildings.