Biden Administration’s Purging of 442 Reporters Goes Unnoticed by Media

In a surprising development, the Biden administration has taken action to remove a large number of reporters, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of journalists with access to the White House.

This decision has led to a 31% reduction in the number of reporters with coveted ‘hard passes’, and it represents a concerning attack on press freedom. What is particularly concerning is the lack of attention this issue has received from mainstream media outlets.

Simon Ateba, Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa, recently shared a warning letter he received from the White House and the press secretary’s office, indicating that his hard pass could be revoked. This is a clear indication of the administration’s intent to limit press access. These new rules were announced in May with the aim of restricting the number of journalists eligible for a White House hard pass.

Since the implementation of these rules, the number of hard pass holders has significantly dropped from 1,417 to 975 over the past three months. This means that 442 reporters, including both renewals and new applications, have lost their hard pass. Instead, they are now required to apply for a day pass daily and undergo Secret Service review.

One of the reporters who did not make the cut is Christian reporter Dr. Harper, who has previously faced bullying from fellow reporters. This further emphasizes the selective nature of this purge and raises questions about the criteria used to determine who retains access.

This situation is in stark contrast to the incident involving Jim Acosta in 2018. When Acosta’s White House press pass was suspended after an altercation with a female White House staffer, the mainstream media came to his defense, arguing for his right to question and challenge the US president, even when it bordered on harassment.

JUST IN: A recent report found that the Biden White House has PURGED over 440 reporters, most of them being from conservative outlets, from attending White House Press Briefings.

So much for Freedom of Press! https://t.co/cpabZFGMeG

— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) August 5, 2023

However, the same media outlets are now conspicuously silent regarding the current purge of 442 reporters. In 2018, CNN even sued to have Acosta’s pass restored under former President Trump. Yet, today, they remain silent. Acosta himself thanked his colleagues for their support when a federal judge ruled in his favor, but there is no similar support for the hundreds of reporters facing the same circumstances now.

The lack of outcry from the mainstream media on this issue is deeply concerning. It not only exposes their bias but also undermines the essence of press freedom.

It is the duty of the media to hold those in power accountable, rather than selectively choosing when to defend the rights of their colleagues based on political affiliations.

This purge of 442 reporters by the Biden administration is a troubling development that poses a threat to the free press. The fact that the mainstream media has largely ignored this issue only exacerbates the threat.

It is crucial for all media outlets, regardless of their political leanings, to stand up against such attacks on press freedom.

This article appeared in The Patriot Brief and has been published here with permission.