The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

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Incidents: prior restraint in North America

Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.

6 incidents match this view.

Country: United States (6)

Continent: North America (6)

Tactic: Prior restraint (6) Access bans (2) Secrets and espionage laws (2) Credential control (1)

Outcome: Sustained (2) Reversed (2) Ongoing (1) Unknown (1)

Level: National (5) State or province (1)

Head of government: Donald Trump (2) George W. Bush (1) Richard Nixon (1) Franklin D. Roosevelt (1) Theodore Christianson (1)

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United StatesCredential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 12, 2020Political appointees alter CDC coronavirus guidance before public releaseUnited StatesPrior restraintDonald TrumpUnknown
February 10, 2003Pentagon sets ground rules for journalists embedded with United States forces in IraqUnited StatesAccess bansGeorge W. BushSustained (April 14, 2003)
June 15, 1971United States government seeks an injunction to stop The New York Times publishing the Pentagon PapersUnited StatesPrior restraintRichard NixonReversed (June 30, 1971)
December 19, 1941United States creates an Office of Censorship and a wartime code for the pressUnited StatesPrior restraintFranklin D. RooseveltSustained (September 28, 1945)
1927United States Supreme Court strikes down a Minnesota law used to shut a newspaperUnited StatesPrior restraintTheodore ChristiansonReversed (June 1, 1931)
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