A House Republican, whose caucus is being besieged with questions about President Donald Trump, is leading the charge to spare lawmakers the irritation of reporters camped off the House floor, according to a new report.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who chairs the House Rules Committee, revealed that some of her colleagues want to ban the press entirely from the Speaker’s Lobby, the Washington Sun reported Thursday.
Reporters have long been able to buttonhole members between votes in that room, according to the report. Foxx told 535 News the idea came up during a “member day” hearing earlier this month, where the House weighed rules changes ahead of the upcoming 120th Congress.
“One that had a lot of support was to not allow the press in the Speaker’s Lobby,” Foxx said. “People are very irritated about the press being right off the floor.”
Foxx said she didn’t personally endorse the ban, but that the idea carried “a lot of sentiment” among members.
The idea lands amid a broader pattern of shrinking press access under the Trump administration, which has barred reporters from “unescorted” access to the West Wing press office. Last year, dozens of reporters turned in their Pentagon credentials and walked out over restrictive rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Not every recent lobby debate has centered on locking press out, according to the report.
“Earlier this month, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) joked about easing restrictions on sneakers in the Speaker’s Lobby should Democrats gain the majority, adding that he’s a member of the pro-kicks camp,” the report stated.
The full House is set to vote on the new rules package Jan. 3, when the next congressional session convenes, likely with a Democratic majority.
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