The Trump administration has taken a hard stance in the move to cut federal funding for Politico, in a significant escalation of Mr. Trump’s campaign to reorganize government spending and reduce taxpayer support for media outlets he sees as partisan. That was the decision by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, after an exposé showed that Politico had received over $8 million in federal contracts and subscriptions since 2024, amid a louder debate about media bias and fiscal responsibility.
The funding cutoff and initial aftermath
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed on February 5, 2025, that Politico would no longer receive taxpayer funds, citing $8.1 million in federal payments in fiscal year 2024 and an additional $1.5 million in 2025. The funds in question largely paid for subscriptions to Politico Pro, a premium service that provides legislative and regulatory analysis, at a cost of thousands a year. Leavitt insisted the administration was devoted to ridding itself of spending that does not “serve the interests of the American people”.
The announcement came amid reports of internal upheaval at Politico, including a delayed payroll payment on February 4. The matter was rectified within days, but the incident stoked accusations of financial instability, with some critics, including commentator Benny Johnson, branding it a “crisis” and “the biggest scandal in news media history”. Politico has made no public comment on the payroll issue or termination of funding.
DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting agenda
The move against Politico is part of a broader austerity drive led by Musk, whom President Trump tasked with streamlining federal operations. Under Musk’s direction, DOGE has targeted multiple agencies, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which he described as a “ball of worms” requiring complete dissolution. Musk’s team has also pressured federal employees to resign, slashed office space leases, and clashed with career officials over access to financial systems. Key efforts include:
- Staff overhauls: Placing Musk loyalists in top positions at OPM and GSA.
- Program cuts: Floating a plan to slash OPM staff by 70% along with eliminating “underused” programs.
- Transparency push: Holding weekly live chats on X (formerly Twitter) to update the public on DOGE’s progress.
President Trump has come to Musk’s defense, stating, “He’s a big cost-cutter… I think he’s doing a great job”.
Allegations of media bias and partisan targeting
Critics say the Politico funding cut-off reflects ideological motives. Leavitt pointed to Politico’s left-leaning bias, as rated by AllSides, which groups it with the likes of CNN and NPR2. Musk amplified these criticisms on X, referring to federal support for Politico and The Associated Press as a “huge waste of taxpayer money”.
But Politico isn’t the only recipient of government contracts. The Associated Press got $619,968 in 2024, and The New York Times over $350,000 yearly since 2022. Leavitt went on to say that DOGE is reviewing all media spending, which indicates more cuts are coming.
Response and political fallout
The decision has brought sharp backlash. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) denounced Musk as “morally vacant,” while legal scholars such as Georgetown’s David Super cautioned that DOGE’s tactics threaten to “devastate the federal bureaucracy”. Meanwhile, Republicans like Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Mike Lee (R-UT) applauded Musk’s efficiency drive.
Politico’s fate also brings into question the role of the government in the media. Supporters say that the federal contracts guarantee access to critical policy data, while opponents argue that they present conflicts of interest. Allies of Musk, like former DOGE co-leader Vivek Ramaswamy, say the cuts put fiscal integrity over partisan favoritism.
The road ahead for federally funded media
DOGE’s crackdown marks a new era for government-media relations. Next on the chopping block could be the AP and New York Times, both mentioned in USAspending.gov documents. In the meantime, Musk’s promise to provide weekly updates on X reinforces his unorthodox, transparency-oriented approach.
As the administration vows to “go line by line” through federal budgets, media outlets dependent on public funds face unprecedented uncertainty. Whether this will be the way toward long-lasting efficiency or a threat to institutional knowledge, time will tell; however, one thing is sure: under the DOGE’s axe, no program, or publication, is safe.
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