A judge has rebuffed a Trump administration demand for phone records from New York Times reporters, offering the government a choice between withdrawing the subpoenas or having the court quash them, according to Ars Technica.
Key facts
- A federal judge pushed back on a Trump administration demand for phone records from New York Times reporters.
- The judge said the subpoenas could be quashed or the government could withdraw them.
- The dispute was reported by Ars Technica on July 24, 2026.
A federal judge has rebuffed an effort by the Trump administration to obtain phone records belonging to reporters at The New York Times, according to Ars Technica.
In remarks reported by the outlet, the judge presented the government with a stark choice regarding the subpoenas seeking the records. “We can quash the subpoenas, or you could withdraw the subpoenas,” the judge told the US, according to Ars Technica.
The exchange signals judicial resistance to the administration’s attempt to compel disclosure of the journalists’ phone records. By offering the government the option to withdraw the subpoenas voluntarily, the judge left the administration with limited room to press forward with the demand as issued.
Efforts to obtain reporters’ phone records have historically raised concerns among press freedom advocates, who argue that such demands can expose confidential sources and chill investigative journalism. The source material does not detail the specific investigation or the reasons the administration sought the records.
Further details about the case, including the identities of the reporters involved and the underlying matter, were not provided in the available reporting.
Why it matters
Demands for journalists' phone records touch directly on press freedom and the ability of reporters to protect confidential sources. A judge's willingness to quash such subpoenas sets a marker for how courts may weigh government investigations against First Amendment concerns.