CNN, Politico and MS NOW returned to the White House on Thursday after a federal judge temporarily ordered the Trump administration to restore their press access, finding that the outlets were likely to succeed in showing their credentials had been revoked without adequate due process.
The restoration ended a days-long exclusion but left television coverage disrupted as several major networks continued withholding participation in the White House video pool.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the White House to immediately restore the three organizations' access and temporarily blocked enforcement of the ban for 14 days.
CNN, Politico and MS NOW were initially denied entry Thursday morning despite the overnight ruling, prompting them to seek an emergency court hearing.
The hearing was canceled after White House operations officials restored the passes, with an administration filing saying the credentials had been reinstated by 09:45.
Kelly found the outlets were likely to succeed in arguing that the administration had failed to provide adequate due process.
He also questioned the government's national security justification, noting that Trump initially announced the restrictions while accusing the outlets of publishing false coverage rather than citing security concerns.
The Justice Department had argued that reporting by the organizations threatened national security, citing coverage involving missile stockpiles, the White House ballroom and the recent Republican midterm convention.
The dispute continued to affect coverage during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington and ahead of a planned state dinner.
After CNN was removed from the rotation of five major broadcast networks that share White House video, Fox News, NBC, CBS and ABC declined to participate in the pool in solidarity.
The judge's temporary order did not address CNN's removal from that arrangement.
Trump first announced the ban last Friday, and the three outlets subsequently reported that their journalists were denied entry and had credentials confiscated.
They pursued legal action alleging violations of their constitutional rights.
More than 50 media organizations, including major newspapers, broadcasters and the Associated Press, filed an amicus brief supporting restoration of access.
Kelly's temporary restraining order expires after two weeks, while both sides were given until Oct. 5 to submit arguments over whether a longer preliminary injunction should be issued.