The US Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to four New York Times journalists, compelling them to appear before a federal grand jury in Manhattan on Wednesday. The summonses, delivered by federal agents to the reporters’ private residences, demand testimony “in regard to an alleged violation of federal criminal law.” The move follows the newspaper’s publication of articles detailing security concerns about the new Air Force One, a Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar, which the Times reported lacked advanced defensive systems including anti-missile capabilities.

According to the Department of Justice, the investigation targets government officials who leaked classified information, not the journalists themselves. A department spokesperson stated that while the press plays an important role, the government must ensure that those entrusted with national secrets do not disclose them. The White House communications director, Steven Cheung, described the aircraft as “state-of-the-art” and fitted with high-level security protocols. President Donald Trump denied any security shortcomings, claiming the decision to use an older plane for the return from the NATO summit in Ankara was made to allow US service members in Britain to view the new jet.

The New York Times and press freedom organisations have condemned the subpoenas as an intimidation tactic. David McCraw, the paper’s senior legal counsel, said the presence of federal agents at reporters’ doors “should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.” The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press noted that the action departs from long-standing Justice Department norms requiring prosecutors to exhaust all other investigative avenues before seeking journalists’ testimony. Earlier this year, similar subpoenas issued to reporters at The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal were withdrawn after legal challenges.

The subpoenas escalate a broader confrontation between the Trump administration and independent media, which has included lawsuits, threats to revoke broadcast licences, and restricted White House access. The underlying reporting, based on anonymous sources, revealed that the Secret Service advised Trump to switch aircraft for the flight out of Turkey amid the collapse of a ceasefire with Iran and US airstrikes. The Qatari-donated jet, valued at an estimated $400 million and retrofitted by the Air Force, entered service only last week, prompting Senate Democrats to question whether luxury was prioritised over national security. Former Air Force officials expressed surprise that the plane was used abroad before all modifications were complete.

The four journalists are expected to challenge the subpoenas. The grand jury proceedings in Manhattan will proceed as the Justice Department continues its leak investigation, while the episode is likely to intensify legislative and public debate over press freedoms and the handling of classified national security information.