Provisional ruling says Trump wrong in the way independent newsgatherers were banned from Press events
The News Media Coalition (NMC) today (September 24th, 2026) welcomed a District of Columbia judge’s recognition of the importance of news reporters, photographers and video journalists being able to carry out their vital work without artificial barriers.
He said the Trump administration must immediately reinstate access to the White House for three news organisations barred from the building last week by the president.
His temporary restraining order means CNN, MS NOW and Politico must have their access restored for 14 days, stating the ban “likely violated their constitutional due process rights”. Judge Timothy Kelly said the news outlets were “likely to succeed” in showing the White House had not exercised “adequate due process” in implementing the ban.
‘This is a significant moment for the ability of professional journalists to obtain information first hand, capture the news of the day and if necessary ask difficult questions, what we call basic everyday Primary Source Journalism’, said Andrew Moger, Chief Executive of the News Media Coalition (NMC), an international news industry organisation which champions the practical needs of the free Press including access to events and information.
‘Judge Kelly is clearly no fool. He has seen through the White House and defence departments attempts to justify excluding independent journalists whose reports they didn’t like,’ Moger added.
The judge cast doubt on the Trump administration’s assertion that the bans – effected by withdrawing accreditation passes for the White House – were motivated by national security concerns.
The ruling continued: “The record lacks factual support for Defendants’ contention that the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes will in fact protect national security or that national security will be endangered if the Court orders their passes reinstated while this litigation proceeds.”
The judge said that “in most cases” reports that the White House took issue with were written by journalists who “did not even hold card passes”. In other cases, the Trump administration did not demonstrate “reason to believe that the reporter’s possession of the hard pass was integral to the stories identified”.
Ted Boutrous, the lawyer representing the news outlets, told CNN: “This is a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law.”
On Monday, major US TV networks pulled out of a collaborative industry scheme, called the White House pool, in protest at the ban. The arrangement sees media organisations share material with each other to save on costs and space when broadcasting presidential events to the American public.
Forty-nine media outlets – including CBS News, The New York Times and Fox News – also filed a legal brief in support of CNN, MS NOW and Politico’s lawsuit.
The White House is yet to comment on the ruling, and lawyers acting for the president may take further legal action.
Moger added: ‘While this is a temporary outcome, this whole affair puts on notice those who seek to control the Press, limit diversity of perspectives and thereby reduce the ability of independent newsgatherers to act as the eyes, ears and inquiring minds of the public who want to know what’s happening on their behalf’.
‘Let’s not forget that Primary Source Journalism (PSJ) the reporting of newsworthy current affairs by trained journalists is a vital, consistent and high-value societal asset providing trust-worthy, real-time and authentic accounts in a world of harmful synthetic content and disinformation.’
‘We believe PSJ is the bed-rock of local, national and global knowledge about current affairs, influence and social change. But creating written reports, photography and video news material relies on journalists being able to witness news events of public interest and to access information about them.’
‘This applies to the White House as it does in other political environments as well as other current affairs such as where protests occur, natural disasters, conflicts, business affairs and legal proceedings as well as at organised cultural, sports, showbusiness, and civic events.’
