The New York Times has flatly rejected the Trump/Hegseth proposal requiring Pentagon pre-approval for all reporting.

In October 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense under Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced a new set of restrictive policies governing media access and conduct. A central component of this policy required news organizations to agree to terms that included, among other things, oversight measures interpreted by major outlets as a form of pre-approval for reporting.

The New York Times, alongside other prominent media organizations including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press, formally rejected these terms prior to the signing deadline.washingtonpost.comwashingtonpost.comProminent Media Reject New Pentagon Rules Before Signing DeadlineThe claim that The New York Times rejected a proposal requiring Pentagon pre-approval for reporting is factually accurate and supported by extensive reporting and legal records from 2025 and 2026 This policy demanded that journalists sign... Following this refusal, media outlets faced various retaliatory measures, including the loss of press credentials and the removal of news media offices from the Pentagon.cbsnews.comcbsnews.comNew York Times sues Pentagon a second time, calling press access policy...Legal Action: Following the refusal to sign, many journalists were forced to vacate the Pentagon Ongoing Disputes: Despite the initial court ruling, tensions have continued, with The New York Times filing further legal challenges in May...+2 more

The New York Times subsequently pursued multiple lawsuits against the Department of Defense, arguing that these policies were unconstitutional and limited freedom of the press. While legal battles have continued, a federal judge has ruled to block the enforcement of key portions of the Pentagon's restrictive policy, citing that it failed to provide clear notice regarding what specific reporting activities were prohibited.pbs.orgpbs.orgJudge Sides with New York Times in Challenge to Pentagon Policy Limiting...The New York Times subsequently filed multiple lawsuits against the Department of Defense and Secretary Hegseth, challenging the constitutionality of the restrictions Friedman, sided with The New York Times and other media organizations,...theguardian.comtheguardian.comUS judge blocks Pentagon’s restrictions on press after New York Times lawsuitBroad Rejection: The New York Times was among dozens of major news organizations—including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, and others—that refused to sign the agreement, citing it as an...+2 more