Three major U.S. news organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after President Donald Trump barred their journalists from accessing the White House, escalating an ongoing dispute over media access and press freedom.

The organizations filed the legal challenge in federal court in Washington, D.C., seeking the restoration of access to the White House and related facilities. Their lawsuit argues that the administration’s decision unlawfully restricts journalists from carrying out their duties and raises constitutional concerns involving freedom of the press.

The dispute intensified after Trump announced that the three organizations would no longer be permitted to access the White House. The president accused the outlets of producing what he characterized as inaccurate or unfair coverage and indicated that additional media organizations could face similar restrictions.

The restrictions were subsequently enforced, preventing reporters from entering areas of the White House complex that are normally accessible to members of the press corps. The organizations say their journalists were also affected by changes to their press credentials.

The lawsuit places renewed attention on the relationship between the White House and the news media. Access to government officials and public institutions is an important part of political reporting, allowing journalists to question policymakers and independently report on government decisions.

The legal challenge also comes amid a series of disputes between the administration and news organizations over press access and coverage. Previous cases have raised questions about how much authority the executive branch has to determine which journalists can report from government premises.

The administration has defended its approach to media access, while the news organizations involved argue that government officials should not be able to restrict access based on unfavorable coverage.

The court proceedings could therefore have broader implications for White House press access, journalists covering the federal government and the constitutional protections afforded to the news media.