15/01/2026
Federal agents raided the home of a Washington Post reporter on Wednesday, prompting alarm from U.S. news organizations and press-freedom groups over what they called an extraordinary move against the media.
The search targeted journalist Hannah Natanson, who has led coverage of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce. FBI agents seized her work and personal laptops, along with her phone and other electronics.
Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray said the warrant was tied to an investigation into a government contractor accused of mishandling classified material and stressed that Natanson and the Post “are not a target.”
“Nonetheless, this extraordinary, aggressive action is deeply concerning and raises profound questions around the constitutional protections for our work,” Murray said.
Press-freedom groups warned the raid could chill reporting on whistleblowers, noting that it comes as President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the media and threatened critics with investigations and lawsuits, making seizures of journalists’ materials highly unusual under U.S. press-freedom protections.
📸: Getty