Trump Administration Sought Phone Records of Times Journalists and Their Relatives

The Trump administration sought phone records for New York Times journalists and some of their relatives as part of what The Times says is an aggressive effort to identify confidential sources used in reporting on the president’s new Air Force One, according to a report published by New York Times Business.

The newspaper has asked a judge to throw out the subpoenas, which it says reach beyond the reporters themselves and into the phone records of family members. The request adds a new layer to a dispute already centered on government attempts to uncover who spoke with Times journalists for their coverage of the aircraft.

The feed summary does not provide the names of the reporters, the number of records sought, or the specific government agency involved. It also does not say whether any records have been turned over. Still, the move signals a hard-edged effort by federal officials to identify confidential sources tied to coverage of a politically sensitive presidential project.

The issue is likely to intensify concerns about press freedom and the protection of sources, especially when the reporting involves the president and federal spending. Subpoenas aimed at journalists’ communications can chill whistleblowers and create a wider net of exposure around newsroom contacts, including people not directly involved in the reporting.

The Times’ move to seek judicial relief suggests the newspaper is challenging the subpoenas on legal and First Amendment grounds, though the feed summary does not spell out the exact arguments. For now, the dispute appears to be in the courts, with the newspaper pressing to block access to the records.

This article is based on a monitored public feed and the summary provided by New York Times Business.

Source: New York Times Business - https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/20/business/media/new-york-times-subpoenas-phone-records.html