Federal appeals court allows Pentagon to temporarily require journalist escorts pending appeal

A three-judge federal appeals court panel ruled 2-to-1 on Monday to stay part of a district court injunction that had struck down the Pentagon's new media access policy. The stay means journalists must again be escorted inside the Pentagon while the appeal proceeds. The case stems from a lawsuit by The New York Times challenging Defense Department rules implemented in September 2025 that tied reporter access to security risk determinations.