by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A federal judge has temporarily ordered the Trump administration to restore White House access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, ruling that the three outlets are likely to succeed in their challenge to the way their press passes were revoked.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, directed officials to “immediately return, reinstate, and restore” the credentials. His temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days while the court considers whether longer-lasting relief is warranted.
President Donald Trump announced the ban on Sept. 18, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing false reports. Justice Department attorneys later argued that White House access is a privilege and that the restrictions were justified by concerns involving national security and professional conduct.
Kelly concluded that the administration had provided too little evidence to support its national-security claim. He also found that the outlets likely received neither adequate notice nor a meaningful opportunity to contest the decision before losing access.
The ruling does not settle the broader lawsuit or declare that news organizations have an unlimited right to enter the White House. For now, it rests largely on a narrower constitutional principle: Once the government establishes a press-access system, it must follow clear standards and basic due process when withdrawing credentials.
The administration is expected to challenge the order.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
