USA · 24 Jul 2026 · 05:43 GMT ·1 min read

DOJ Drops Subpoenas Against New York Times Journalists Over Qatari Aircraft Reporting

The US Department of Justice withdrew subpoenas issued to New York Times journalists on July 24, 2026.

NEUTRALITY 85 · BALANCED· 5 sources

Abcnews

The US Department of Justice withdrew subpoenas issued to New York Times journalists on July 24, 2026. The subpoenas sought phone records and testimony regarding a report on a Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar to the US. The New York Times reported the plane lacked anti-missile defenses. The Trump administration previously claimed the coverage threatened national security. Reporters across the political spectrum welcomed the withdrawal, stating it protects press independence. The aircraft remains under review for security upgrades.

Context

The dispute arose following a New York Times report detailing security gaps in a Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated to the US by Qatar. The Trump administration sought to identify sources through subpoenas for journalist phone records and grand jury testimony.

Supportive perspectives

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) publicly welcomed the withdrawal of the subpoenas on July 24, 2026.
RSF stated that the court outcome reaffirms that the government cannot use legal powers to erode the independence of the press.
Lawyers for The New York Times argued that the government's actions violated First Amendment protections for newsgathering.
The withdrawal ends a legal effort that the New York Times legal team characterized as an attempt to intimidate journalists.

Critical perspectives

The Trump administration previously asserted that the New York Times coverage of the plane's security features posed a substantial national security concern.
Critics have expressed concerns regarding the ethics and constitutionality of accepting an aircraft worth hundreds of millions of dollars from a foreign government.
Some critics have suggested that the acceptance of the gifted aircraft could violate regulations concerning presents for US presidents.
President Trump stated that the new plane was being sent to a British airbase for tours and subsequently for upgrades to be maxed out, following reports that the aircraft lacked specific security countermeasures.