The New York Times is calling the subpoenaing of several of its journalists over their reporting on Air Force One a “brazen act.”

President Trump received the new Boeing 747-8 jet last year as an ‘unconditional’ gift from the Qatari government.

The US military finished modifications in June valued at an estimated $580 million. Trump described the jet as a “flying White House” with “a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before”.

But last week the Times reported that the new Air Force One lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities, prompting Trump to use the older aircraft to depart Turkey last week.

The paper said the subpoenas seek to force the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan next week.

It reported that in some cases, federal agents turned up at journalists’ homes to deliver the subpoenas.

Trump controversially accepted the jet as a gift from Qatar. Photo: AAP

The Times‘ newsroom lawyer, David McCraw, denounced the administration’s actions, saying, “The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution and the press freedom it protects.

McCraw added, “Our journalists report the facts and advance the American public’s right to know how their government is operating and their taxpayer dollars are being used.

“This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.”

The subpoenas were issued by attorney Jay Clayton, who was recently nominated by Trump to serve as director of national intelligence.

Air Force One sits on the tarmac as Trump switches planes on his way from the NATO summit in Turkey. Photo: AAP

In a statement on Saturday, a White House spokeswoman said that “reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are”.

Trump has long been a harsh critic of the news media, often labelling outlets as “fake news”.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department sought to compel testimony from journalists at The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post but withdrew the subpoenas after both news organisations fought back in sealed filings.