A US federal judge on Thursday extended a temporary restraining order (TRO) that calls on the White House to permit access for journalists from CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and Politico, allowing the court more time to decide whether it will block President Donald Trump’s ban on the outlets during the pendency of their lawsuit.

In September, President Trump removed the outlets from White House access over coverage that he described as “FICTION and LIES.” The outlets filed suit, and a TRO was granted shortly thereafter.

On Thursday, Judge Timothy Kelly at the US District Court for the District of Columbia extended the TRO through October 13 to allow additional time for a ruling on the outlets’ motion for a preliminary injunction. MS NOW pointed out that although the Trump administration insisted it had given journalists due process by issuing letters justifying the ban as a national security measure, those letters were only issued a day after the news outlets filed their lawsuit.

President Trump defended the ban in court filings, stating:

Plaintiffs CNN, MSNOW, and Politico have long been granted privileged access to White House grounds. But the President concluded that they have failed to maintain basic minimum “standards of professionalism and decorum expected of those given access to the White House Complex” [. . .] In response, the President preliminarily revoked their continued access to White House grounds and provided Plaintiffs the opportunity to respond by end of business Friday, September 25, 2026. Plaintiffs declined to submit any response, request any extension, or otherwise defend their conduct.

The outlets have described the ban as an “unlawful assault on the most fundamental First Amendment freedoms.”

Judge Kelly said he expects to rule on the preliminary injunction by Tuesday. Unlike a TRO, a preliminary injunction can be appealed. The Justice Department has asked if an injunction is granted, it is limited to restoring the outlets’ hard passes and put on hold while an appeal is heard. Pending next week’s ruling, the outlets maintain their normal access.