White House Cancels $8 Million in Federal Funds for Politico Subscriptions

The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of more than $8 million in federal funds used to subsidize subscriptions to Politico, a move described by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as part of a broader effort to reduce government waste. The funding, which was primarily allocated through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), had been criticized as essentially subsidizing a media outlet accused of liberal bias. Leavitt emphasized the need for government spending to serve the interests of the American people and confirmed that the Domestic Operations and Government Efficiency (DOGE) team is now working to halt these payments. The decision follows scrutiny from right-wing figures, including Elon Musk, who highlighted the payments amid claims of media bias. However, reports clarified that the funds were for subscriptions rather than direct grants to Politico, with subscriptions costing around $10,000 each. The exact details regarding other media outlets that may have received similar funding remain unclear.