To my best recollection, every White House administration has refused to answer some questions from the press corps. This administration has escalated the unacceptable concept to a much higher level. This administration has implemented a policy of restricting members of the press they don’t want to get questions from.
Here are some new rules. The press corps has the right to appoint some number of reporters to attend any announcement by federal officials. That might be 50% of reporters attending the briefing. The press corps has the right to select some number of their ranks to ask questions. Those questions shall be answered at the briefing. If the questions are not answered in an acceptable manner, the officials shall hold another briefing within two business days and shall address those specific questions.
There are certainly a number of details to be worked out. For example, what can be done with the federal official does not answer the question. The answer, to some degree is: They must answer the question. In the event of a recalcitrant official, this is an open question. There are more questions that must be addressed regarding classified material, but that is up for discussion.
I followed up on this one by writing a letter to the members of the White House Correspondents Association. That letter was posted to my web site here: https://www.mbkelly.net/politics/press_corps.htm It was edited for posing by including a list of some members of the association at the top along with the address. After several searches I found no email addresses so sent a letter to each via USPS.
Question for the reader: Would it be better posting the letter here directly rather than a link?