By SCM International Desk I Sept 25, 2026
WASHINGTON — Journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico returned to the White House complex on Thursday after a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Trump administration’s revocation of their press credentials.
The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, requires the administration to immediately reinstate the “hard passes” of reporters from the three news organizations while a broader legal challenge plays out in court.
”We will be able to be there and ask the necessary questions,” said one returning reporter following the ruling, framing the court’s action as an essential safeguard for newsgathering and presidential accountability.
The standoff reached a turning point early Thursday morning after Judge Kelly ruled that the administration likely violated the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee of due process by stripping the outlets’ credentials without advance notice, formal procedural standards, or a clear mechanism to appeal.
The judge expressed skepticism regarding the White House’s argument that national security concerns dictated the move, noting that the decision appeared closely tied to presidential dissatisfaction with the outlets’ coverage.
The temporary restoration ends days of heightened tension between the executive branch and major news organizations. The dispute escalated when the White House revoked hard-pass access for reporters across the three organizations, citing negative coverage and labeling the reporting inaccurate.
CNN was also temporarily removed from its scheduled duties within the press pool.
In response, the news organizations filed a joint lawsuit challenging the administration’s actions on First Amendment and Fifth Amendment grounds.
They argued that the decision amounted to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination meant to punish news organizations for critical reporting.
Attorneys representing the administration countered in court filings that access to the White House press facilities is a privilege rather than a constitutional right, maintaining that the executive branch holds broad discretionary authority over who is granted access to the complex.
Despite brief administrative delays at the security gates on Thursday morning, press operations personnel reactivated the credentials, allowing journalists from all three organizations back onto the grounds by midday.
The 14-day temporary restraining order provides short-term access while the court prepares to hear full arguments on whether to issue a longer-term preliminary injunction.
The Initial Ban: The administration suspended White House hard passes for reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, barring them from everyday access to the press briefing room, presidential events, and pool coverage duties.
Legal Precedent: Federal court rulings—including a prominent 1977 precedent (Sherrill v. Knight) and a similar 2018 ruling by Judge Kelly involving CNN reporter Jim Acosta—have established that the government cannot revoke a journalist’s White House press pass without explicit procedural due process, including notice and a opportunity to respond.
Constitutional Issues at Stake:
First Amendment: Prohibits government officials from retaliating against news outlets or excluding press credentials based on editorial viewpoint.
Fifth Amendment: Entitles individuals and organizations to fair procedures and clear standards before the government deprives them of an established access privilege.