(AURN News) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will take control of determining which journalists participate in the White House press pool, marking a significant shift from decades of tradition. The press pool changes follow other major shifts implemented by the Trump administration since taking office in January, including federal employee buyouts and spending cuts through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration will now select media outlets that cover the president in close settings, a role previously managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association.
“As you all know, 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. Not anymore,” Leavitt said during Tuesday’s press briefing.
Leavitt assured that established media organizations will maintain access while promising to include outlets previously excluded from these opportunities.
“Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join, fear not, 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.
The administration will maintain the rotation among major television networks while adding streaming services. Print and radio pool participants will also be expanded to include local radio hosts and additional outlets, according to Leavitt.
The White House Correspondents’ Association responded with immediate concern. Association President Eugene Daniels said in a statement that the change “tears at the independence of a free press in the United States” and “suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president.”
Daniels noted that the association has consistently expanded its membership and pool rotations to include new outlets while maintaining professional standards and fairness in access.
“To be clear, the White House did not give the WHCA board a heads up or have any discussions about today’s announcements. But the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favor,” Daniels said.
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