A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from restricting White House access for MS NOW and Politico. The court ordered officials to restore the outlets’ hard pass press credentials.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order as the legal dispute over White House media access continues. The order will remain in effect for 14 days unless the court changes it.
Quick Fact
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| What happened | A federal judge ordered the temporary restoration of White House media access. |
| Where | Washington, D.C. |
| When | September 24, 2026 |
| Judge | U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly |
| Organizations involved | MS NOW and Politico |
| Current status | A temporary restraining order is in effect for 14 days. |
| Main legal issue | Whether officials followed adequate due process when removing press credentials. |
| Why it matters | The ruling affects media access to the White House while the legal dispute continues. |
Judge Orders Press Access Restored
Judge Timothy Kelly issued the temporary restraining order on Thursday. He directed White House officials to return and restore the affected hard pass credentials.
The judge said the news organizations were likely to succeed in their argument that officials revoked their credentials without constitutionally adequate due process.
The ruling does not settle the entire case. Instead, it provides temporary relief while the court considers the broader legal dispute.
Court Challenge Over Press Access
The affected news organizations challenged the administration’s decision in federal court.
Their legal challenge centers on press access and the process officials used to remove their White House credentials.
The Justice Department defended the administration’s position in court. Government lawyers argued that White House press access represents a privilege rather than an automatic legal right.
The administration also defended its authority to decide which journalists and news organizations receive access to the White House.
Judge Kelly’s temporary order requires officials to restore the credentials while the case moves forward
White House Press Pool Dispute
The dispute also affected television coverage of presidential events.
Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, MS NOW and NBC News agreed to suspend their pooled coverage of the president following the access dispute.
Television pools allow participating news organizations to share coverage of presidential events. The arrangement helps multiple outlets report from events where space or access may be limited.
Background on White House Access
White House hard passes allow eligible journalists to enter certain areas of the presidential complex for reporting.
The administration’s decision to restrict access led the affected organizations to seek legal relief.
Judge Kelly reviewed the arguments before issuing the temporary restraining order.
The current ruling addresses the immediate question of access. It does not determine the final outcome of the lawsuit.
What Happens Next in Court
Further court decisions will determine how the dispute develops.
A federal judge has ordered the temporary restoration of White House media access for MS NOW and Politico.
The 14 day order focuses on due process while the broader legal dispute continues. The case remains active, and additional court action could follow.
