The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search in the United States, stage: restrict

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

18 incidents match this view.

Country: United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180

Continent: North America

Tactic: Access bans (17) Credential control (6) Prior restraint (3) Detention and violence (1)

Stage: Restrict (18)

Outcome: Ongoing (6) Sustained (6) Reversed (4) Unknown (2)

Level: National (14) State or province (4)

Head of government: Donald Trump Doug Ducey George H. W. Bush George W. Bush Jeff Landry Ron DeSantis Ronald Reagan

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 18, 2026United States: White House hard-pass deactivations for CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters, September 2026United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpOngoing (September 21, 2026)
October 31, 2025White House closes 'Upper Press' section of West Wing to reportersUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained
October 15, 2025United States: News organizations turn in their Pentagon press credentials, October 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
September 19, 2025United States: Department of Defense press credential rules requiring approval before release of information, September 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpOngoing (April 9, 2026)
April 15, 2025White House ends wire services' guaranteed seat in the press poolUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained
February 25, 2025United States: White House takes over selection of the presidential press pool, February 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpSustained (September 22, 2026)
February 11, 2025United States: White House exclusion of the Associated Press from the Oval Office and Air Force One, February 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpOngoing (July 22, 2025)
February 6, 2025Border czar Tom Homan says ICE media ride-alongs may end over leaksUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDonald TrumpUnknown
January 31, 2025United States (Louisiana): Federal court order blocking enforcement of the police buffer zone law, January 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansJeff LandryOngoing (January 31, 2025)
January 1, 2025United States (Florida): Halo Law buffer zone around first responders, January 2025United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansRon DeSantisSustained (January 1, 2025)
May 24, 2024United States (Louisiana): 25-foot buffer zone law around police officers, May 2024United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansJeff LandryOngoing (January 31, 2025)
July 21, 2023Federal court strikes down Arizona's law banning recording police within 8 feetUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansDoug DuceyReversed (July 21, 2023)
September 12, 2020Political appointees alter CDC coronavirus guidance before public releaseUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Prior restraintDonald TrumpUnknown
November 7, 2018White House revokes CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credential after a news conference exchange with President TrumpUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
November 7, 2018United States: White House suspension of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass, November 2018United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Credential controlDonald TrumpReversed (November 19, 2018)
February 10, 2003Pentagon sets ground rules for journalists embedded with United States forces in IraqUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansGeorge W. BushSustained (April 14, 2003)
January 17, 1991United States military restricts reporters to escorted press pools during the Gulf WarUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansGeorge H. W. BushSustained (February 28, 1991)
October 25, 1983United States military bars journalists from the invasion of GrenadaUnited States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180)Access bansRonald ReaganReversed (April 1, 1985)
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