A federal judge has rebuffed the Trump administration's demand for phone records and grand jury testimony from New York Times reporters, marking a setback for efforts to unmask journalistic sources.

US District Judge Arun Subramanian "grilled Justice Department lawyers" over their handling of subpoenas related to reporting on security concerns about the Air Force One jet. Subramanian emphasized that targeting reporters should be a "last resort" and a matter of "basic compliance with the law."

The Department of Justice voluntarily withdrew the subpoenas during a hearing on July 23, 2026. The New York Times had called the demands "a brazen effort to intimidate the press" and reported that federal agents served subpoenas at journalists' homes, demanding testimony within three business days.