The administration of US President Donald Trump finds itself in a fresh standoff with the American press after four New York Times journalists were summoned to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan, as part of an investigation into the leak of information concerning the new Air Force One, the aircraft gifted by Qatar and recently added to the presidential fleet.

The US Department of Justice issued subpoenas on Friday to journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt, ordering them to appear before the federal grand jury next week.

According to the New York Times, some of the subpoenas were delivered by federal agents directly to the journalists’ homes. The documents do not specify the exact focus of the investigation in detail, stating only that it concerns a possible violation of federal criminal law.

The case is linked to reporting by the newspaper that revealed security concerns surrounding the new presidential aircraft, which was handed over as a gift by Qatar and entered service only last week.

The report that triggered the investigation

The report at the centre of the dispute said that President Trump had flown to the NATO summit in Turkey aboard the new Air Force One, but used the older presidential aircraft for his return journey.

According to the New York Times, the switch came after intervention by the Secret Service, since the new Boeing 747-8 had not yet been fitted with the full range of advanced defensive systems found on the traditional Air Force One, including missile defence capabilities and other critical security infrastructure. The report was based on anonymous sources citing sensitive national security information.

The Trump administration rejected claims of security shortcomings on the aircraft. A White House official said the new Air Force One is state-of-the-art and equipped with high-level security protocols that ensure the protection of the president and his staff. The official also said that changes to the president’s travel arrangements fall within standard practices of deception and misdirection against potential threats, and are not an indication of problems with the new aircraft.

Sharp reaction from the New York Times

The newspaper reacted strongly to the subpoenas, describing them as a serious attack on press freedom.

David McCraw, the New York Times’ chief legal counsel, said the sight of federal agents on the doorstep of reporters’ homes should alarm any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.

The newspaper said it would challenge the subpoenas in court, arguing that forcing journalists to disclose or testify about confidential sources undermines the press’s ability to inform the public on matters of public interest.

Part of a wider clash

The case marks another episode in the Trump administration’s ongoing dispute with major American news organisations over leaks concerning national security matters.

Earlier this year, similar subpoenas were issued to journalists at the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, though they were later withdrawn.

The FBI has also searched the home of another journalist as part of a separate leak investigation, developments that have heightened concerns among press freedom organisations in the United States.