Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the White House is ending taxpayer-funded subscriptions to media outlets, including Politico. Leavitt stated that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is working to cancel these payments as part of a government-wide spending review. This announcement comes after Politico employees experienced a delay in their bi-weekly direct deposits, raising internal concerns about a potential connection to Musk's cost-cutting measures. Leavitt revealed that over $8 million in taxpayer money has gone towards subsidizing Politico subscriptions, a practice that will now cease.

The delay in Politico's payroll, attributed by management to a "technical error," caused anxiety among staff who worried about bill payments and potential overdraft fees. While employees eventually received their payments, the incident fueled speculation about a link to Musk's spending cuts. A Politico spokesperson confirmed the payments were made after a technical issue was resolved but did not address questions regarding the potential impact of government funding cuts.

Musk, heading Trump's DOGE, has initiated plans to reduce USAID funding. While USAID contributed a portion of the government funds received by Politico, other agencies, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce, have also provided substantial sums for Politico subscriptions. Musk publicly questioned a reported $500,000 expenditure by HHS on Politico Pro, further heightening employee concerns at the publication. Politico's subscription service, essential for many government employees, comes at a significant cost, typically ranging from $12,000 to $15,000 for three users. Data suggests a sharp increase in government spending on these subscriptions during the Biden administration.