A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the White House cannot ban members of the press from accessing certain areas of its grounds as punishment for making editorial decisions that do not align with the current administration.

The order lifts a ban on Associated Press reporters from attending key events in the Oval Office and from riding on Air Force One. 

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden determined that the ban violated the First Amendment by infringing on free speech.

“The Court simply holds that 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," he wrote. "The Constitution requires no less.”

McFadden ordered the White House to rescind its decisions that banned the reporters, after the Associated Press refused to change its style guide to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as "Gulf of America." 

The outlet has maintained it will not change its policy to address the Gulf as "Gulf of America," because it is an international organization and it did not want to confuse its readers.

Associated Press reporters were still allowed on the White House grounds and in the press briefing room, and maintained their "hard pass" credentials.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.