Subpoenas are targeting *The New York Times* journalists investigating the security of Donald Trump's new Air Force One.
Federal authorities have issued subpoenas to *The New York Times* reporters investigating security questions related to a new Air Force One gifted by Qatar. Legal maneuvers, described by media advocates as an "extraordinary assault on the freedom of the press," seek to compel journalists to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The subpoenas were issued after high-ranking Justice Department officials met with reporters and discussed the new jet, which the administration spent $400 million to retrofit. Critics argue the tactic represents a troubling escalation by the administration to control independent media coverage. Media organizations and civil liberties groups warned that the action chills free press reporting, stating that the subpoenas are an abuse of prosecutorial power. The Justice Department stated that the focus is on reporters who leak classified information, not the journalists themselves. This incident is viewed by observers as part of a broader pattern of the administration leveraging federal power to pressure outlets that report unfavorably on the government. Legal experts emphasized that the actions highlight ongoing tensions between the media and the federal government over access and reporting rights.