Major Subscription Cancellations
The White House recently announced significant cuts to online subscriptions, specifically to Politico, totaling millions of dollars. This decision, part of a broader initiative led by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, aims to reshape government finances by reducing payrolls and budgets, ultimately affecting entire government agencies. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had spent approximately $8 million on subscriptions to Politico’s premium service, Politico Pro, which will be terminated.
Press Conference Highlights
During a press conference on Wednesday, Leavitt confirmed the cancellation of these subscriptions to the gathered press corps, emphasizing the misuse of taxpayer dollars to fund media subscriptions. She stated, “I was made aware of the funding from USAID to media outlets, including Politico,” and assured that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) would be halting these payments promptly.
Misleading Reports and Claims
Despite the announcement, Leavitt’s statement contained inaccuracies regarding the funding sources and intentions behind them. Multiple US agencies have contributed to subscriptions for Politico Pro and other news outlets, a detail that was overlooked in the discussions surrounding the cuts. Additionally, pro-Musk influencers have mischaracterized the spending as direct government support for “biased” news coverage, echoing Musk’s own assertions on X (formerly Twitter) about the alleged misuse of government funds.
Understanding the Structure of DOGE
While the name suggests a formal government department, DOGE is not officially recognized, and Musk holds no official government position. Nonetheless, this team has gained unprecedented access to key federal agencies, such as the Treasury and the Office of Personnel Management, potentially compromising their operations. Reports indicate that this access could either be read-only or allow them to make unilateral changes to payments and funding streams, placing millions of Americans at risk.
Impact on USAID and Community Assistance
USAID has faced severe setbacks due to DOGE’s measures, experiencing staff layoffs and budget freezes that could cripple its humanitarian efforts worldwide. Musk has been vocal in his critique of the agency, labeling it a “criminal organization” and undermining its critical role in providing international aid amid crises. He remarked on social media about his team’s efforts, stating, “We spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” trivializing the agency’s operations and the consequences of its potential shutdown.
SOURCE: Ref Image from LeBig Data
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