President Donald Trump has ordered an end to all paid news subscriptions for federal employees and executive branch agencies. The White House directed the General Services Administration (GSA) to cancel all media contracts, effectively cutting government funding for news services such as Politico, BBC, Bloomberg, and E&E News.
White House Directs GSA to Terminate News Subscriptions
According to an email obtained by Axios, the Trump administration instructed the GSA to immediately revoke all paid media contracts. The email explicitly stated:
“Pull all contracts for Politico, BBC, E&E (Politico sub), and Bloomberg. Pull all media contracts for just GSA – cancel every single media contract today for GSA only.”
The GSA plays a crucial role in government operations, overseeing procurement, technology, and real estate services. By targeting GSA first, the administration may be laying the groundwork for broader cancellations across all federal agencies.
Background: Controversy Over Politico Pro Payments
This decision comes just days after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency mistakenly alleged that Politico had received millions in federal subsidies. However, it was later revealed that these payments were for Politico Pro, a subscription service providing legislative tracking for government agencies.
Despite the clarification, the Trump administration moved forward with cutting paid news contracts, fueling debates over whether the government should fund media subscriptions. Some Trump supporters claimed that previous administrations had been financially supporting anti-Trump media, though records indicate that such contracts were a long-standing, bipartisan practice.
White House Justifies the Decision
In response to public scrutiny, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the federal government would no longer allocate funds for Politico subscriptions. The decision is being positioned as a cost-cutting measure rather than a political move against certain media outlets.
Politico Denies Government Funding Claims
Politico executives pushed back against the allegations, emphasizing that their company has never received direct government subsidies.
“Politico is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years,” wrote Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris.
They further clarified that Politico Pro is a paid service used by companies, organizations, and government agencies, similar to other professional information services.
Impact of the Decision
This move could significantly impact government agencies that rely on subscription-based news services for policy updates, economic insights, and legislative tracking. While some officials see it as a cost-saving initiative, others argue that it may limit access to critical information needed for decision-making.
Whether this policy will extend to all federal departments remains uncertain, but it marks another instance of the Trump administration taking a firm stance against major media outlets.
