Federal Judge Orders White House to Restore Press Access for CNN, MS NOW, Politico

Hartford & New Haven, CT, September 24, 2026 —

A federal judge has issued a temporary order directing the White House to reinstate press credentials for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The ruling stems from a legal challenge brought forth by the news organizations concerning a directive that had barred their access.

The judge’s decision indicates that the ban was determined to be likely unconstitutional and that it proceeded without adequate due process. This temporary restoration of access is effective pending further legal proceedings or a final resolution to the dispute.

The news outlets involved had challenged the directive implemented by the Trump administration. The specifics of the directive, including the exact date the ban was enacted or the precise nature of the alleged due process violations beyond the general statement, were not detailed in the initial summary.

The ruling represents a significant development in the ongoing tension between the White House and certain news organizations. The court’s finding that the ban was likely unconstitutional suggests a judicial scrutiny of the administration’s authority to restrict access for news outlets. The lack of due process implies that the organizations were not afforded a fair opportunity to contest the decision to revoke their press credentials.

Further details regarding the timeline for the restoration of access, the specific evidence presented by the news outlets, and the White House’s response to the order were not provided in the summary. The court’s temporary order signifies an interim measure, and the ultimate outcome of the legal challenge remains to be seen.

Story summarized from the original created by Gary Grumbach | NBC News, Dareh Gregorian | NBC News and Rudy Chinchilla | NBC News on www.nbcconnecticut.com, see more information here.