Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Treasury Blocks Major Outlets From G20 Finance Meeting
The US Treasury is holding an important meeting about money and the world economy.
Reporters from Bloomberg News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal were not given permission to attend.
Treasury has not explained why some reporters were rejected.
Secretary Scott Bessent said the decisions were not based on the reporters’ opinions.
German officials helped one New York Times reporter get access.
They could not get access for a Bloomberg reporter.
The meeting includes finance ministers and central bank leaders from major economies.
The news organizations say the public should be able to learn what happens at the meeting.
The meeting takes place in Asheville, North Carolina, although the articles give different start dates.
The US Treasury Department denied credentials to reporters from Bloomberg News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Treasury provided no public explanation, while Secretary Scott Bessent said the exclusions were unrelated to reporters’ viewpoints.
A New York Times reporter secured access after lobbying by German officials, but a Bloomberg reporter did not.
The G20 finance ministers’ meeting is being held in Asheville, North Carolina, during the US presidency of the G20.
The news organizations said excluding journalists harms press freedom, public accountability and independent journalism.
- Who
- The US Treasury Department denied credentials to journalists from Bloomberg News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is hosting the meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh.
- What
- Several reporters and news organizations were prevented from covering the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting.
- When
- The meeting runs through Tuesday; one article says it began Saturday, while another says it began Sunday.
- Where
- Asheville, North Carolina.
- Why
- Treasury has not explained the rejected applications. Scott Bessent said the decisions had nothing to do with viewpoint.
Press-freedom critics
Treasury’s stated position
Media access
Press-freedom critics
Bloomberg News and The New York Times said excluding journalists undermines media freedom, independent journalism and public accountability.
Treasury’s stated position
Treasury controls accreditation for the meeting, and Scott Bessent said the decisions had nothing to do with reporters’ viewpoints.
Public scrutiny
Press-freedom critics
The New York Times said the meeting’s discussions of the Iran war, sanctions, bond markets and inflation are important to the global economy and the American public.
Treasury’s stated position
The Treasury Department has not publicly explained the individual accreditation decisions or stated that the meeting’s agenda affected access.
- Event
- G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting
- Location
- Asheville, North Carolina
- Host country
- The United States holds the 2026 G20 presidency.
- Meeting dates
- The articles differ: one says Saturday through Tuesday, and the other says Sunday through Tuesday.
- Expected media attendance
- More than 200 journalists from dozens of countries were expected.
- Denied outlets
- Bloomberg News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal
- Treasury explanation
- No public explanation was provided; Scott Bessent said the decision was not viewpoint-based.
