New York Times sues Defense Sec. Pete Hegseth over restrictive Pentagon media rules

Core Viewpoint - The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against the Pentagon, claiming that new restrictions on reporters violate the First Amendment's free press protections [4][5]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit challenges a 21-page rulebook presented by the Pentagon that restricts journalists from seeking or publishing unapproved information, even if it is unclassified [3]. - The Times seeks a court ruling to block the enforcement of these rules and to declare them unconstitutional [4]. - The lawsuit argues that the policy limits journalists' ability to gather information and report on government activities, which is essential for public knowledge [4][5]. Group 2: Background and Context - The lawsuit follows a significant walkout by reporters from The Times and other major news outlets, who surrendered their Pentagon credentials in protest of the new rules [2]. - The Pentagon's media rules are part of a broader initiative by Secretary Pete Hegseth to reshape the press corps, including stripping national outlets of workspace and reallocating offices to conservative media [6]. - Press-freedom advocates argue that the new policy gives the Pentagon excessive authority to revoke press access based on the content of stories pursued by journalists [7][8].