US government cancels subpoena against three New York Times reporters | Donald Trump News
U.S. Government Withdraws Subpoenas for New York Times Reporters
July 23, 2026
Attorneys representing the United States government have withdrawn subpoenas aimed at three New York Times reporters who were to be compelled to testify regarding their sources for a story about an Air Force One jet gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar.
During a court appearance on Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian criticized the government’s legal approach, labeling it as “sloppy.” He expressed frustration at the government’s choice to issue subpoenas early in the process, stating that such actions should be a last resort.
“When you see something like this, if this were a civil proceeding, what I would normally do is ask the parties to show cause why sanctions should not be issued,” Subramanian remarked.
The Trump administration’s efforts to require reporters to disclose their sources raised concerns about press freedoms, especially as the administration has been known to target critical media and political adversaries. Previous attempts to compel testimony from journalists at the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal were similarly withdrawn.
Lawyers for the New York Times challenged the legality of the grand jury subpoenas, which also included requests for phone records of several journalists and their family members. The paper’s managing editor and general counsel were present in the courtroom during the proceedings.
The government has stated it is investigating leaks related to a story about the president’s use of an older Air Force One jet following a summit in Turkey, rather than the Qatar-gifted aircraft. Reports indicate that the newly retrofitted jet, which cost $400 million, lacks critical security features such as antimissile capabilities.
In defense of the subpoena requests, the Department of Justice clarified that reporters themselves are not the targets; rather, the focus is on individuals leaking classified information. The right to obtain information from government sources is vital for journalism, particularly in the realm of national security, and is viewed as essential to maintaining press freedom. Efforts by the government, irrespective of administration, to compel journalists to reveal sources have sparked debate over the integrity of these protections.
