A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to keep reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico inside the White House press operation, turning a temporary court intervention into a longer-term win for the three news organizations. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday, preserving their access while the outlets’ lawsuit moves forward.
The case began after the White House revoked the hard passes of nearly 80 journalists affiliated with the organizations. Those credentials allow reporters who have already undergone screening to enter the White House complex for regular coverage. The outlets argued that the administration’s action violated both the First Amendment and their right to receive basic procedural protections before being excluded from the building.
Kelly, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, said the administration likely failed to provide adequate notice or an opportunity to respond before canceling the passes. His decision also goes beyond the initial procedural question: the judge found that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were likely to succeed on claims that the ban amounted to retaliation and viewpoint discrimination tied to Trump’s objections to their coverage.
The ruling echoes Kelly’s earlier handling of a dispute involving CNN correspondent Jim Acosta during Trump’s first term. In 2018, Kelly ordered the White House to restore Acosta’s press pass after finding that the administration had not provided constitutionally sufficient due process. That history made Kelly’s assignment to the newer lawsuit especially notable, although the current case involves a much broader group of reporters and three separate news organizations.
For the press corps, the practical effect is immediate: the outlets can continue reporting from the White House grounds rather than relying solely on remote briefings, outside interviews or information supplied by the administration. Kelly’s order does not resolve the underlying lawsuit, and the White House can challenge the injunction on appeal, but it prevents the access ban from taking effect while the legal fight continues.
The dispute also tests how far a president can control access to a government complex without turning press credentials into a reward for favorable coverage. As Bleeding Cool first reported, Kelly’s ruling requires the White House to reinstate access; the newer injunction now keeps that protection in place beyond the initial emergency order.
