A joint task force from the U.S. Defense Department and Justice Department will pursue leaks to the press, with the Pentagon’s general counsel empowered to request information and support leak investigations across the department.

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Trump administration figure, announces the joint task force to crack down on military-headquarters leaks circulating in news reports.

Defense Secretary Hegseth says the initiative grants expansive powers to the War Department’s Office of General Counsel to request records and gather information for leak investigations.

Reuters reports, citing anonymous sources, that Trump traveled on the old Air Force One and that the newer aircraft may lack some advanced security features.

The Times notes a senior FBI official contacted reporters ahead of publication to urge withholding the article and to secure source names, drawing criticism as press intimidation.

Trump has publicly labeled the media the enemy of the people, elevating tensions around reporting and access to information.

Media organizations, including the National Press Club, warn that subpoenas threaten press independence and constitutional rights.

Sources include Reuters and Hegseth’s X account, with reporting from Orlando.

The announcement follows federal subpoenas to New York Times journalists related to security concerns about Trump’s new Air Force One, underscoring tensions between leaks and reporting.

Subpoenas involving NYT reporters concerned a story on Air Force One security, including issues tied to a Qatar-issued version and potential assassination plots.

The broader press-related legal actions include NYT subpoenas over security stories about Trump’s aircraft, as reported by the New York Times.

The package of information comes from inputs across multiple agencies.