The latest political firestorm over media funding began with misleading claims on social media. Right-wing influencers accused Politico of receiving millions from USAID, a claim that quickly gained traction. However, the reality is much simpler—government agencies legally purchase subscriptions to outlets like Politico Pro and Bloomberg to stay informed on policy and legislation.
Despite this, the Trump administration has ordered the cancellation of media contracts with Politico, Bloomberg, and others. This move raises concerns about restricting access to critical information for government officials.
Chris Mohr, President of SIIA, emphasized the importance of these subscriptions:
“The idea that it would be cutting off intelligence completely is extremely concerning and ill-advised.”
At its core, this issue is not about government waste but about the free flow of information. Cutting off access to specialized news services doesn’t just hurt the media—it impacts policymakers who rely on accurate reporting to do their jobs effectively.
https://www.npr.org/2025/02/07/nx-s1-5290282/politico-subscriptions-usaid-x-musk-trump
