The Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists who reported on security concerns involving the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One aircraft, the Times confirmed. The subpoenas seek to force reporters Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week. Federal agents delivered some subpoenas to the reporters at their homes, according to the newspaper.
The reporting in question centered on why President Donald Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to depart a NATO summit in Turkey rather than the newly retrofitted aircraft that Qatar gifted to the United States after spending $400 million on upgrades. The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the Secret Service urged the switch because the newer plane lacked certain advanced security features, including antimissile capabilities.
The subpoenas were issued after FBI Director Kash Patel and other Justice Department officials met at the White House on Friday to discuss the matter, according to a person familiar with the discussions who was not authorized to discuss the issue publicly. The DOJ stated that reporters are not targets of the investigation, saying in a release that 'those leaking classified information are' the focus.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and press freedom advocates have condemned the subpoenas as an attack on the First Amendment and a dangerous escalation of the Trump administration's campaign against critical journalism. David McCraw, a lawyer for the Times, said in a statement: '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.'
Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, called Trump's actions part of an ongoing 'war on the press.' In a statement, he said the subpoenas 'break from longstanding Justice Department practice to protect the public interest and press independence by requiring prosecutors to only seek information from reporters as a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted.'
During his first term, Trump repeatedly referred to the press as an 'enemy' of the American people. Critics argue that compelling journalists to reveal their sources before a grand jury sets a dangerous precedent that could chill investigative reporting on government conduct.
What the Right Is Saying
Administration supporters argue the Justice Department is appropriately investigating potential leaks of classified information and that reporters are not above scrutiny when national security is at stake. The DOJ said in its statement: 'We value and appreciate the important role that the press plays in this country, but DOJ also plays an important role to make sure that the people entrusted with our nation's secrets do what they're supposed to do with that information, which means not sharing classified information.'
White House spokesman Steven Cheung defended the new Air Force One as 'a state-of-the-art aircraft that has been fitted with high-level security protocols that ensure the safety of the President and his staff.' He added that the administration uses 'every tool at our disposal' to address threats against the president.
Trump himself denied security concerns during a flight, posting on social media that the stop in Mildenhall, England was so service members could view the new jet. When asked about Iran threats, Trump said: 'I have a threat all the time. I'm No. 1 on their list.'
What the Numbers Show
In April 2025, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi rescinded a policy from the Biden administration that had protected journalists from having their phone records secretly seized during leak investigations. That change gave prosecutors expanded authority to use subpoenas, court orders and search warrants to pursue government officials who share 'unauthorized disclosures' with journalists.
This is not the first instance of federal pressure on media organizations this year. The Justice Department previously issued subpoenas seeking testimony from reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal over similar reporting, though both sets of subpoenas were later withdrawn. In January, FBI agents searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of a separate leak investigation.
The new Air Force One aircraft cost Qatar approximately $400 million to retrofit and upgrade before being presented as a gift to the United States. The plane entered service last week but was not used for Trump's departure from the NATO summit in Turkey, where he also referenced threats against him made by Iran during a period of heightened tensions between the two countries.
The Bottom Line
The subpoenas represent an escalation in what press freedom groups describe as an unprecedented campaign by the Trump administration to pressure news organizations critical of its leadership. While the Justice Department insists reporters are not targets, legal experts note that compelling journalists to testify before grand juries about their sources is extremely rare across presidential administrations.
The case now moves to the Times' next steps, which could include challenging the subpoenas in court or negotiating with prosecutors over the scope of any testimony. The Reporters Committee and other press freedom organizations are expected to file supporting briefs if litigation occurs. What remains clear is that the confrontation between the administration and major news outlets shows no signs of abating, with both sides viewing this as a foundational test of press rights in the United States.