Stephen Miller's new White House role comes with a controversial plan to arrest journalists

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid a string of White House leaks to journalists, the federal administration has come up with a plan to crack down on reporters, according to a new report.

The Trump administration is reportedly discussing throwing journalists behind bars to force them to reveal the identities of leakers, and incoming White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is reportedly behind the plan.

Previously, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Lt Gen Brett Sylvia, the Joint Staff's director of strategy, plans and policy (J5), over allegations of leaking classified information to the media.

Report says Stephen Miller favored jailing reporters over leaks

Confidential information getting leaked to journalists has been one of the major headaches of the Trump administration. So, various “tactics” have been discussed, including arresting journalists to push them into revealing their sources.

An Atlantic report on Susie Wiles’ departure from the White House as a chief of staff revealed that a plan to jail journalists is under consideration in the administration.

Two sources cited in the report said Wiles “pushed back” against the idea, while Miller “was in favor and insisted that it wouldn’t take long for journalists to give up their sources.”

A DOJ spokesperson denied the report in a comment to the outlet, calling it “absolutely false” without providing any further explanation. Meanwhile, a White House spokesperson said leakers “must be held accountable” and never “tolerated.”

Multiple people cited in the report claimed that Trump has been pushing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue criminal proceedings against those who leak secret information to the media on "national security grounds."

Trump hands Stephen Miller the top White House job

President Donald Trump has replaced White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with her deputy, Stephen Miller, in a major bureaucratic development in the federal government.

Trump was reportedly “furious” with Wiles after Republicans lost majorities in the House and Senate during the midterms.

“I am pleased to announce that Mr Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

Trump said Wiles would move to his political operation, adding that she “has done an outstanding job.”

“Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation. I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff,” Trump added in the post.

When reporters asked the president why he decided to remove Wiles, Trump replied, "Sometimes in life you have to make moves."

Miller takes over as chief of staff on Monday. The White House has not said whether any leak investigation involving journalists is underway.