Reports Suggest Politico Relied On USAID Funds Before Payroll Failure

A payroll failure at Politico has fueled allegations that the media outlet depended on USAID funding for its financial stability. According to multiple journalists and commentators on X, Politico had been receiving taxpayer dollars for years, with the payments stopping just as President Donald Trump cut off USAID funding and ordered a full audit of the agency.

Liz Wheeler reported on X that Politico received approximately $34.3 million from various federal agencies, not just the $8 million previously linked to USAID. She claimed that the funding began in 2015 and increased significantly during Biden’s presidency. Among the agencies she named as sending money to Politico were the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) questioned why taxpayer money was being sent to Politico, calling it a forced subscription to a left-wing media outlet. Other commentators, including Paul A. Szypula and Sara Rose, pointed out that Politico’s payroll issues came immediately after USAID’s funding was frozen. Szypula suggested that the media outlet might not survive without government assistance.

https://twitter.com/davidharsanyi/status/1887141357409505673

The controversy has extended beyond Politico, with journalist Breanna Morello alleging that USAID also funded the New York Times and BBC. According to figures shared by David Procino, Politico received $32 million, while the New York Times and BBC were given $3.1 million and $3.2 million respectively.

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, recently took control of USAID’s headquarters. Reports indicate that over 600 employees lost access to their systems and that the agency’s financial networks were seized. The White House accused USAID of spending taxpayer money on political projects rather than humanitarian aid, with some reports connecting the agency’s financial activities to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company tied to Hunter Biden.

Politico blamed the payroll issue on a “technical error,” but many remain skeptical. Journalist David Harsanyi pointed out that Politico had frequently reported on USAID without ever disclosing its own financial ties to the agency. As investigations into USAID continue, further questions remain about how taxpayer funds were used.

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