Knight First Amendment Institute

organization

Last mentioned: Mar 24, 2026

Timeline

Mar 24, 2026
DoD Response

Pentagon officials announce they are reviewing the ruling and considering an appeal to the D.C. Circuit.
Mar 20, 2026
Federal Ruling

Judge rules the policy is an unconstitutional prior restraint on free speech.
Feb 15, 2025
Lawsuit Filed

Press advocacy groups file a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the pre-clearance policy.
May 12, 2024
Policy Update

Pentagon updates 'Media Ground Rules' to increase PAO oversight of all interviews.

Stories mentioning Knight First Amendment Institute 1

Federal Court Strikes Down Restrictive Pentagon Press Policy as Unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Defense's restrictive media access and pre-publication review policies violate the First Amendment. The decision marks a significant legal defeat for the Pentagon, potentially ending decades of 'prior restraint' on how service members and journalists interact.

Mar 24, 2026 2 sources