WASHINGTON, United States — The Trump administration has told a federal court that President Donald Trump has the authority to exclude journalists from the White House, citing national security concerns arising from reporting by CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Justice Department argued that the three news organisations had published material concerning the war in Iran, construction at the White House, and other government activities that could threaten national security.
The administration asked the court to reject an emergency application by the news organisations seeking the restoration of their White House credentials.
The filing came ahead of a Wednesday hearing before United States District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, where the three organisations are challenging Trump’s decision to bar their journalists from the White House.
According to CNN, the administration maintains that the president can restrict access to certain areas of the White House even when the restrictions are based on the viewpoints expressed by journalists.
“At the very least, the Government may control reporters’ access to restricted presidential areas, such as the Oval Office, even for viewpoint-discriminatory reasons,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in their submission.
White House Cites Reporting on Iran and Ballroom Construction
The administration’s court filing included letters addressed to the three news organisations explaining its reasons for withdrawing their access.
The letters, dated Tuesday, identified specific reports that the White House said raised national security concerns or failed to meet the standards expected of journalists granted access to the presidential complex.
CNN was cited for reporting on plans to construct a classified bunker beneath Trump’s proposed White House ballroom, as well as its coverage of the war in Iran.
The administration also objected to MS NOW’s reporting on the Iran conflict and an investigation into the disclosure of sensitive government information.
Politico was cited for its coverage of Iran, the White House ballroom project, and discussions concerning sanctions against Russia.
The Justice Department argued that the president had grounds to restrict the organisations’ access because of the potential security implications of their reporting.
“The President has found that Plaintiffs have engaged in a number of reporting incidents that have threatened national security. Such reporting directly raises national security concerns,” the department wrote.
In its letter to CNN, the administration accused the network of failing to meet the conditions attached to White House press credentials through reporting that allegedly compromised national security or disseminated inaccurate information.
The government did not establish in the court filing that the identified reports had resulted in the disclosure of classified information or caused a specific national security breach.
The letters gave the three organisations until Friday to submit written objections to the restrictions.
Justice Department Defends Presidential Authority
The administration’s legal response centres on the president’s authority to determine who may enter the White House and the extent to which constitutional protections apply to journalists seeking access to the presidential complex.
The Justice Department maintains that the president may restrict access to areas containing sensitive government information and that journalists do not possess an unrestricted constitutional entitlement to enter the White House.
“Access to the White House is a privilege, not a right,” the administration argued in its filing.
Its lawyers also contended that the president has broad authority over access to restricted areas, including the Oval Office, where official discussions and sensitive government business take place.
The filing addressed the news organisations’ allegation that the administration violated their constitutional right to due process by withdrawing their credentials without advance notification or an opportunity to challenge the decision.
The Justice Department pointed to the letters issued on Tuesday, which provided written explanations for the restrictions and invited the organisations to submit objections.
The administration argued that the newly established procedure addressed the due process complaints raised in the lawsuit.
The three news organisations are seeking an immediate court order reversing the restrictions while their constitutional claims are considered.
Federal Judge to Hear Emergency Application
Judge Kelly is scheduled to consider the news organisations’ request for an emergency order restoring their access to the White House.
The judge previously presided over a dispute involving CNN journalist Jim Acosta, whose White House press credentials were withdrawn during Trump’s first presidential term.
In that case, Kelly ordered the administration to restore Acosta’s credentials after finding that the journalist had not received the procedural protections required under the Fifth Amendment.
The earlier ruling concerned the procedures followed in withdrawing Acosta’s credentials and did not establish an unrestricted right of access to the White House for all journalists.
The current lawsuit raises questions about the administration’s authority to exclude particular news organisations, the application of constitutional protections to access decisions, and the procedural requirements governing the withdrawal of press credentials.
The Justice Department has asked Kelly to deny the application for immediate relief, while CNN, MS NOW, and Politico maintain that their exclusion violates constitutional protections for freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and due process.
The court has not yet ruled on the organisations’ emergency application.
