USAID Under Fire After Reports Of Media Funding And Politico’s Payroll Crisis

Reports that Politico has been unable to pay its employees have fueled speculation about the outlet’s financial reliance on USAID. According to several journalists and commentators on X, Politico has been receiving taxpayer dollars through the agency for years, with the funding allegedly ending just as President Donald Trump ordered an audit of USAID’s operations.

Political analyst Liz Wheeler posted that Politico had received at least $34.3 million from multiple government agencies. She noted that the payments began in 2015, around the time Trump entered the political spotlight, and that they increased during Biden’s presidency. Among the agencies allegedly involved were the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) also criticized the funding, writing on X that it amounted to a forced subscription to a liberal media outlet. Other commentators pointed out the timing of Politico’s payroll problems, with Sara Rose and Paul A. Szypula noting that the issue arose just after USAID funding was cut. Szypula suggested that the outlet may struggle to continue operations without federal support.

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

The controversy is not limited to Politico. Journalist Breanna Morello claimed that USAID also funneled money to other major media organizations, including the New York Times and BBC. David Procino later provided a breakdown of estimated payments, stating that Politico received around $32 million, compared to $3.1 million for the New York Times and $3.2 million for the BBC.

USAID’s financial dealings have come under greater scrutiny after Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, took control of its headquarters. The move resulted in over 600 employees being locked out and USAID’s financial networks being seized. The White House accused the agency of misusing funds for political initiatives, including those tied to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company linked to Hunter Biden.

Politico claimed that payroll disruptions were due to a “technical error,” but many on X have expressed doubts. David Harsanyi noted that Politico often reported on USAID while failing to disclose its own financial ties to the agency. As investigations continue, questions remain about how deep USAID’s media funding extended and whether similar cases will emerge.

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