White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that Politico will no longer receive taxpayer funding after it was disclosed that the news outlet had benefited from over $8 million through subscriptions and government contracts. Leavitt emphasized that this decision aligns with the commitment to cut federal expenditures that do not serve the interests of the American people.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is responsible for overseeing these payments, is currently working on terminating the financial support to Politico. This follows concerns raised by social media users about the sizeable government funding received by the outlet, which was confirmed by USASpending.gov.
Leavitt stated during a press briefing, “I can confirm that the more than $8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers’ dime will no longer be happening.” She reiterated the Administration’s rigorous review of federal spending practices.
This announcement comes amid challenging financial times for Politico, including reports from Semafor indicating the company had missed a payroll run recently, although the situation has since been resolved. The aggressive efforts to trim government budgets are part of a broader initiative led by Musk, who has also targeted other outlets such as National Public Radio for funding cuts.
It’s notable that Politico is not the only media outlet with government ties; others like the Associated Press and Reuters have also received significant funding. The broader trend raises questions about the sustainability of media funding in an evolving political landscape and the implications of dependency on government contracts.
In summary, this decision reflects a broader initiative of fiscal responsibility and accountability in government spending. While it introduces uncertainties for some media outlets, it could promote a more independent press free from government financial influences.