Justice Department Subpoenas New York Times Journalists
The U.S. Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to several New York Times reporters following their coverage of security concerns related to the newly retrofitted Qatari-gifted Air Force One. This action marks a significant step in President Donald Trump’s ongoing confrontations with the media, which has been criticized for undermining press freedom.
The revamped aircraft, gifted by Qatar and upgraded at a cost of $400 million, entered into service recently. Despite this, President Trump opted for an older Air Force One when departing a NATO summit in Turkey, citing threats from Iran.
The subpoenas demand that the journalists, including Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The subpoenas were delivered by federal agents to the journalists’ homes.
These actions were reportedly initiated following a meeting at the White House involving FBI Director Kash Patel and other Justice Department officials, as per an anonymous source familiar with the matter.
Before the initial publication of the story, an FBI official contacted the New York Times requesting them to withhold the article over unspecified national security concerns and asked the newspaper to reveal its sources, which the Times refused.
David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, stated, “The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.”
The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the subpoenas. Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, criticized the subpoenas as a break from traditional Justice Department practices that safeguard press independence.
The Justice Department clarified that the intent is not to target reporters but those who leak classified information. They expressed appreciation for the press’s role but emphasized their duty to prevent unauthorized disclosures of national secrets.
Ongoing Tensions with the Press
This move is part of a broader pattern of actions by the Trump administration perceived as hostile to the press. Earlier this year, similar subpoenas were issued to reporters from The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, though they were later withdrawn.
The Justice Department has a history of amending policies on handling media leaks, occasionally seizing journalists’ phone records to identify sources. However, compelling reporters to divulge sources before a grand jury remains a rare practice.
In April 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded a policy from President Joe Biden’s administration that protected journalists from having their phone records seized in secret during leak investigations.
Security Concerns Surrounding Air Force One
President Trump flew to Turkey aboard the new Air Force One but switched to an older model for his return, amid a tense ceasefire with Iran. This decision fueled speculation about the new plane’s security capabilities.
According to anonymous sources cited by the New York Times, the switch was recommended by the Secret Service due to the new jet lacking advanced security features found in the older aircraft.
Trump refuted these security concerns, stating that the stop in Mildenhall was intended for service members to view the new jet. Despite denying that Iran posed a threat to the aircraft, he acknowledged being a target, saying, “I have a threat all the time. I’m No. 1 on their list.”
