This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
'The administration's actions continue to disregard the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation'

The ongoing battle between the Trump administration and the Associated Press is heating up again as the White House has reportedly decided to completely eliminate a press-pool slot specifically reserved for wire services covering the president's daily actions.

The Hill reports: "A source in the West Wing confirmed the changes to The Hill on Tuesday evening and said moving forward, the press pool will be made up of the following group: one print journalist who will serve as the 'print pooler' each day, one additional print journalist, a crew from one of the major television networks, a crew from a secondary television network or streaming service, one radio journalist, one 'new media' or independent journalist and four photojournalists."

In addition to AP, Reuters and Bloomberg are news wire services.
As WorldNetDaily reported last week, a federal judge ordered the White House to restore AP access to the Oval Office and other spaces after President Trump banned the news agency's reporters for their continued use of the previous Gulf of Mexico name for the Gulf of America.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ordered access for the AP into the Oval Office, Air Force One and other limited spaces when available to other members of the media pool.

"Under the First Amendment, if the Government opens its doors to some journalists – be it to the Oval Office, the East Room, or elsewhere – it cannot then shut those doors to other journalists because of their viewpoints," McFadden wrote.

The Hill noted of the new protocol: "The White House official said eligible outlets will be chosen for the pool on a rotating basis, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will retain day-to-day discretion to determine composition of the pool.

"Wire-based outlets will be eligible for selection as part of the pool's daily print-journalist rotation as part of the shake-up, but they will no longer have a permanent slot in the group.
"The official said outlets will be eligible for participation in the pool, 'irrespective of the substantive viewpoint expressed by an outlet.'"
AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton said the wire service was "deeply disappointed" over the new restrictions.

"The wire services represent thousands of news organizations across the U.S. and the world over," she said. "Our coverage is used by local newspapers and television stations in all 50 states to inform their communities.

"The administration's actions continue to disregard the fundamental American freedom to speak without government control or retaliation. This is a grave disservice to the American people."
NBC correspondent and former White House Correspondents' Association President Kelly O'Donnell blasted the latest White House decision.
"Wire reporters are among the most knowledgeable and dedicated to the White House beat," she said on X.
"They are on duty every day of the year and anywhere in the world needed to cover a president. Their work is a key building block for other media's work. Wires fill a critical role in the public's understanding of government and important events."