A federal judge issues a preliminary injunction blocking the Pentagon from enforcing a policy requiring journalists to have official escorts to enter the building, adding to an ongoing legal fight over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s press restrictions. The New York Times brought the challenge, and U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman grants the relief, sidelining the escort rule for covered reporting. Both outlets report that the judge’s decision applies while the case proceeds and that it bars the Pentagon from implementing the escort requirement for journalists seeking access. The ruling is framed as a setback for the administration’s effort to limit certain aspects of media access, according to the reports. The injunction is connected to the Times’ argument that the tighter access rules are retaliatory. The Washington Times similarly describes the judge’s action as another defeat for Hegseth’s attempt to restrict reporters’ ability to enter the Pentagon without an escort. The decision does not resolve the underlying dispute on the merits, but it prevents the escort policy from taking effect during the litigation.