CNN, MS NOW and Politico are asking a federal judge to extend an order that temporarily restored their access to the White House after President Donald Trump’s administration barred the outlets from the presidential complex.
In a court filing submitted Monday, attorneys for the three news organizations requested a preliminary injunction that would prevent the administration from enforcing the ban while their broader legal challenge moves forward. The outlets argued that the restrictions violate First Amendment protections and would cause continuing harm to their ability to cover the White House.
The organizations described the administration’s actions as an “unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms,” and argued that the White House’s conduct since the judge’s initial order shows that the restrictions could be reinstated if the temporary protection expires.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order requiring the White House to return and restore the reporters’ press credentials. Kelly said the outlets were likely to succeed in showing that their access had been revoked without adequate due process.
The dispute began after Trump announced plans to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House access, criticizing their coverage. The administration later argued in court that national security concerns, including reporting involving classified information, provided a legal basis for the restrictions.
Judge Kelly previously questioned that justification, saying the record before him did not demonstrate that national security concerns motivated the revocation of the outlets’ hard passes. The administration has maintained that access to the White House is a privilege and that the president has authority over who receives access.
The latest filing also points to a dispute involving the White House television press pool. According to the outlets, CNN was prevented from serving in its scheduled pool role after the judge’s order, prompting other participating networks to suspend coverage in solidarity.
The case now moves toward a broader decision over whether the temporary protection should remain in place while the underlying lawsuit proceeds. The White House and Justice Department are expected to respond to the latest filing, with the court preparing for further proceedings.
The legal fight has become a significant test of the boundaries between presidential control over White House access and constitutional protections for news organizations covering the executive branch.
