Trump administration withdraws subpoenas for New York Times reporters after admitting legal errors
The Justice Department withdrew subpoenas that would have forced three New York Times reporters to reveal their sources after a federal judge criticized the administration’s legal approach. Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized that subpoenas against journalists should be a last resort to protect First Amendment rights. The withdrawal follows similar retreats from subpoenas targeting reporters at the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.
- ▪The subpoenas sought testimony about sources for articles on President Donald Trump's Qatar‑gifted Air Force One jet.
- ▪Judge Arun Subramanian rebuked the Justice Department for treating subpoena rules as a last step rather than a first step.
- ▪The judge required the government to demonstrate that no other investigative avenues were available before targeting journalists.
- ▪The New York Times also contested subpoenas for phone records of its reporters and their relatives, arguing they were overly broad.
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Open this photo in gallery:The New York Times building in Manhattan in September, 2025. The Trump administration has been vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it doesn’t like.Kylie Cooper/ReutersShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountCriticized by a federal judge for sloppy legal work, the U.S. government on Thursday withdrew subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about U.S. President Donald Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet.The withdrawals in U.S. District Court followed a remarkable back and forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys.
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