US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Pentagon and the Department of Justice have launched a “joint taskforce to identify and prosecute” unauthorized disclosures to the press - because clearly, the best way to protect classified information is to go after the people reporting on it. In a video posted on X, Hegseth declared that he has delegated “tasking authority” to the War Department’s Office of General Counsel, empowering it to demand “all information, records and support” across the department for leak investigations. “Leaked information risks lives,” Hegseth said, adding that “the security of our nation cannot be a bargaining chip for those who seek momentary headlines.” He thanked acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for his help, calling it a beautiful example of interdepartmental synergy.

This crackdown follows the New York Times reporting that the Trump administration subpoenaed several of its journalists after they published stories about security concerns with Trump’s new Qatari-gifted plane. The Times reported that Trump left Turkey on the old Air Force One because the Secret Service flagged the new aircraft as insufficiently secure. The next day, the paper noted the new plane lacked advanced security features. Both stories cited anonymous sources. On Saturday, the Times revealed its reporters were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan. The paper’s top lawyer, David McCraw, said the subpoenas “should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.” A DOJ spokesperson insisted the reporters aren't targets - just the people leaking to them - adding that the department appreciates the press but has a job to do. The National Press Club called it alarming; the Times described it as an “extraordinary escalation” in Trump’s efforts to intimidate news organizations. This follows earlier DOJ attempts to subpoena journalists at the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, which were withdrawn after challenges, and a January raid on a Post reporter’s home.