Judge declines to rule on Trump administration's press ban, keeping it in place

A federal judge on Wednesday heard arguments in a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's decision to bar several major news organizations from certain government access, but did not issue a ruling, leaving the restrictions in place for now.

The case centers on the administration's move to exclude some of the country's most prominent news outlets from coverage arrangements it controls, a decision that press freedom advocates and the affected outlets have challenged in court. Attorneys for both sides presented their arguments during Wednesday's hearing.

The judge did not indicate when a decision might be issued. Until a ruling is handed down, the administration's restrictions on the news organizations remain in effect.

The dispute is being closely watched as a test of how far the executive branch can go in controlling media access, and its outcome could set a precedent for future disputes between the White House and the press.