The New York Times has taken the unusual step of dragging the Pentagon to court, arguing that a set of new accreditation rules amounts to a direct threat to press freedom. The paper’s lawsuit, filed in Washington, DC, challenges guidelines introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, rules that give the Pentagon sweeping latitude to decide which journalists may enter its halls and which ones are shown the door.

At the heart of the complaint is a stark accusation: that the policy hands Hegseth the unilateral power to ban reporters based on stories the administration finds uncomfortable. Times spokesperson Charles Stadtlander said the rules are crafted to “control reporting the government dislikes”, a charge that goes beyond administrative quibbles and into constitutional territory.

The Pentagon has kept its public response muted so far, but the consequences of the new policy are already visible. Several major outlets, including the Times, have vacated their long-held offices inside the building rather than sign on to the revised terms. The press corps that once reflected a wide ideological spread has thinned into a cluster of outlets seen as sympathetic to President Donald Trump’s administration.

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Outside the walls of the Pentagon, reporting has continued, often vigorously. Recent investigations into a controversial double-tap strike in the Caribbean, a case some experts believe may cross the line into unlawful conduct, came from journalists now forced to work without direct access. The Times argues that this distance hinders its ability to inform the public about military decisions made in their name.

The Pentagon insists otherwise. Officials say the rules are simply “common sense”, crafted to shield sensitive operations from unnecessary exposure. Press secretary Kingsley Wilson went further, claiming traditional media organisations have squandered public trust and would not be missed.

Still, the lawsuit points to a line that even national security institutions cannot cross. By allowing officials to judge reporters not on security breaches but on the nature of stories they pursue, the Times argues the policy undermines the First Amendment and weakens accountability at the centre of American military power.

If the court agrees, the Pentagon may be forced to redraw its rulebook. If not, Washington’s most fortified building will become even harder for the country’s largest newsrooms to enter.