Why The New York Times is suing the Pentagon — again

The news outlet says the Pentagon’s latest press-access restrictions are unconstitutional and retaliatory after an earlier court loss

For the second time, The New York Times is suing the Department of Defense, claiming it’s a violation of the First Amendment for journalists to be required to have an escort while working inside the Pentagon.

This is just the latest volley in a continuing conflict between the press and President Donald Trump’s Defense Department, led by Defense Secretary and former Fox News talking head Pete Hegseth. The conflict began a year ago, when the department barred reporters from the Pentagon unless they agreed not to seek information the government had not authorized for release — including unclassified information.