White House Announces Changes To Press Pool
The White House announced a significant shift in press access on Tuesday, declaring that its press team—not the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA)—will now determine which media outlets are included in the White House press pool. This decision marks a major break from long-standing tradition and signals a rebalancing of media representation in one of the most exclusive press environments in the country.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered the news during Tuesday’s briefing, framing the change as a move toward greater inclusivity and fairness in press access.
“For decades, a group of D.C.-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the president of the United States in these most intimate spaces,” Leavitt stated. “Not anymore.”
Excellent decision. The WHCA assignments in the briefing room and gate keeping in the press pool dramatically restrict access to irrelevant legacy media outlets and dramatically skew the type of questions to be asked in limited press availabilities with the President https://t.co/rok4czYhKv
— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) February 25, 2025
She continued, explaining that the administration’s goal is to give more opportunities to outlets that have historically been excluded. “Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” she said. “We will ensure that well-deserving outlets who have been denied access are now given a seat at the table.”
Legacy media organizations, such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, will retain their access, but Leavitt emphasized that new voices would be added to the mix. The administration plans to broaden the rotation among major television networks while also incorporating additional streaming services that reach different audiences beyond traditional broadcast media.
The restructuring also extends to the print pool, which provides shared reporting coverage for major White House events. Under the new policy, outlets previously excluded from the rotation will now have the opportunity to participate in covering the president’s activities.
>> @WHCA's response: "This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps." https://t.co/B3jS2oCH5O
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 25, 2025
This latest shift follows an earlier move by Leavitt to grant “new media” outlets a seat in the James S. Brady Briefing Room, a space traditionally reserved for White House staff. Breitbart News Washington Bureau Chief Matthew Boyle and Axios co-founder Mike Allen were the first to take advantage of the new policy, claiming the reserved seats and receiving the first questions—an honor historically granted to the Associated Press.
The decision has not come without controversy. The Associated Press has since filed a restraining order against Leavitt, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowhich, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, accusing them of sidelining the outlet from participation in certain high-profile events.
Leavitt acknowledged the AP’s objections but remained firm in defending the administration’s decision. “The press pool must reflect the full range of media organizations covering the White House—not just those favored by the WHCA,” she stated.