White House Says It Will Now Determine Who Will Participate In Press Pool

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the White House would now determine which outlets will be members of the press pool, the smaller group of journalists who are allowed in to events such as Oval Office appearances and Mar-a-Lago events.

For years, the White House Correspondents’ Association has handled the logistics of the press pool, including determining which outlets will be assigned for duty and when they will participate. The set up designed to prevent an administration from retaliating against journalists whose coverage they disfavor.

At the briefing, Leavitt said that the change would open up the pool to a greater number of news outlets.

“Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join, but we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility,” she said.

She said that they will continue the rotation among the five major television networks “to ensure the president’s remarks are heard far and wide around this world.”

The Associated Press sued Leavitt and other White House officials last week after it was prohibited from participating in the pool, as well as other White House and presidential events. The White House was clear that the restriction was because the AP failed to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Trump signed an executive order changing the name, but it has not been recognized by other countries, given that it encompasses international waters.

A judge on Monday declined to immediate restore the AP’s access, and set an expedited schedule in the case. He did find the White House’s action “problematic,” given the stated reason was over AP’s content. The judge, Trevor McFadden, did acknowledge the limitations on access to various White House events, but he seemed concerned over the White House stated reasons for restricting the AP.

It was not immediately clear whether the White House action to take control of pool assignments might impact the litigation.

The WHCA is a non profit organization, made up of White House correspondents, and it manages the pool rotations and seating in the briefing room.