The Trump administration issued subpoenas on Friday to four New York Times journalists, ordering them to testify before a federal grand jury on Wednesday after the newspaper reported on security concerns involving the president’s new Air Force One.
The subpoenaed journalists are Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager, and Eric Schmitt, who published an article this week detailing issues with Trump’s new aircraft. The move marks an escalation in the administration’s legal pressure on the news media and comes after previous attempts to compel journalists from other outlets to disclose their sources.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signaled in May 2026 that the Justice Department would not hesitate to subpoena members of the press. Blanche said at a press briefing that reporters who work on sensitive national security matters could be targeted, and CNN reported that Trump personally ordered Blanche to issue subpoenas using a sticky note. In June, the Justice Department withdrew grand jury subpoenas targeting three Wall Street Journal reporters and one Washington Post reporter after the news organizations challenged the subpoenas in sealed court filings, but the administration did not rule out trying again.
The Times subpoenas represent a direct shift from that earlier withdrawal. The new York Times has been engaged in multiple legal battles with the Trump administration, including lawsuits filed by the president himself. In June, Trump called the newspaper’s Iran war coverage “treasonous” and added it to his litigation. The newspaper has also sued the Pentagon multiple times over press access policies, with one federal judge ruling in March 2026 that the Trump administration sought to force out “disfavoured journalists.”
Press freedom advocates have warned that the pattern of subpoenas, legal threats, and access restrictions signals a deepening threat to First Amendment protections. Amnesty International noted on World Press Freedom Day in May 2026 that journalists face increased pressure and threats under the Trump administration. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the earlier subpoena efforts, and the Knight First Amendment Institute raised concerns about Trump’s threats to force journalists to disclose their sources.
Sources
- The New York Times — reported the issuance of subpoenas to four Times journalists on July 11, 2026, and their names and testimony date
- NBC News — confirmed the June 2026 withdrawal of grand jury subpoenas against Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reporters
- Committee to Protect Journalists — documented Trump’s order to Blanche via sticky note in May 2026 and the earlier subpoenas
- The Hill — reported Blanche’s May 2026 statement that the DOJ would subpoena reporters working on national security matters
- Amnesty International USA — documented increased pressure and threats against journalists under the Trump administration
- Al Jazeera — reported the March 2026 federal judge ruling that the Trump administration sought to force out “disfavoured journalists”
