The White House has confirmed that Politico, a prominent news organization, received over $8 million in taxpayer funds to subsidize subscriptions, raising concerns about journalistic integrity and governments relationship with the press.
Top Takeaways
- Politico received over $8 million in taxpayer funds to subsidize subscriptions, as confirmed by the White House.
- The news outlet has received between $27 million to $32 million from US agencies during the Biden administration.
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is working to cancel these payments as part of a government-wide effort to scrutinize federal spending.
- Concerns have been raised about potential interference in journalistic integrity and government influence over the press.
- The funding revelation comes amid accusations of biased reporting and implied censorship by Politico.
Government Funding of Politico Unveiled
The White House has disclosed that Politico, a major player in political journalism, received over $8 million in taxpayer funds to subsidize subscriptions. This revelation has ignited a firestorm of debate about the potential compromising of journalistic independence and the extent of government influence on media organizations.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the funding, stating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is actively working to cancel these payments. This action is part of a broader initiative to scrutinize federal spending line by line.
Extent of Government Funding
The $8 million subsidy is just the tip of the iceberg. Reports suggest that Politico has received between $27 million to $32 million from various US agencies during the Biden administration. This substantial financial support from government sources raises questions about the ability of news organizations to maintain editorial independence while relying on such funding.
“Upon coming out here to the briefing room, I was made aware of the funding from USAID to media outlets, including Politico, who I know has a seat in this room, and 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,” said Leavitt.
The funding primarily supports Politico’s b2b service, Politico Pro, which offers policy-focused intelligence. With individual subscriptions costing around $10,000 annually, the government funding could potentially cover over 800 accounts.
Implications for Journalistic Integrity
The revelation of government funding comes at a time when Politico faces scrutiny over its editorial decisions. Critics have accused the outlet of biased reporting and implied censorship, particularly in its handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story and leaked Supreme Court information.
The substantial government funding raises concerns about conflicts of interest and the ability of news organizations to report objectively on government affairs. This issue extends beyond Politico, as other media outlets like the New York Times and the UK’s BBC have also reportedly received millions in taxpayer funds.
Guess which outlet the Biden campaign and intel officials solicited the laptop letter story to? https://t.co/hkV7BqXSsf pic.twitter.com/efzfLGYCVH
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 5, 2025
Government Efficiency and Spending Scrutiny
The White House’s decision to cancel these payments is part of a larger effort to review federal government spending. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is leading this initiative, which could have significant financial implications for media organizations that have come to rely on government funding.
This move has sparked discussions about the role of government funding in media and the potential need for greater transparency in how taxpayer dollars are allocated to news organizations. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how this will impact the media landscape and public trust in journalism.
