Reports Suggest USAID Secretly Funded Politico Before Sudden Payroll Failure

Politico’s recent payroll failure has sparked allegations that the media outlet was secretly funded by USAID for years. Journalists and commentators on X claim the organization received millions in taxpayer dollars and was unable to pay employees shortly after President Donald Trump cut USAID’s funding and ordered an audit.

Liz Wheeler reported on X that Politico received at least $34.3 million from various federal agencies, not just the $8 million initially mentioned. She pointed out that these payments started in 2015 and increased significantly under Biden. Wheeler listed multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, as among those that allegedly funneled money to the media outlet.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) denounced the funding on X, questioning why taxpayer dollars were directed toward Politico. Other commentators, including Paul A. Szypula and Sara Rose, suggested that Politico’s missed payroll was directly tied to the end of USAID payments. Szypula wrote that the company may not survive without those funds.

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

The controversy extends beyond Politico. Breanna Morello claimed that USAID also provided money to outlets like the New York Times and BBC. David Procino shared an estimated breakdown, stating that Politico received $32 million, while the New York Times and BBC took in $3.1 million and $3.2 million respectively.

This follows a major shake-up at USAID after Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk’s leadership, took over the agency’s headquarters. Over 600 employees were locked out, and the agency’s financial systems were seized. The White House accused USAID of prioritizing political initiatives over its stated mission, citing links to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company tied to Hunter Biden.

Politico sent an email to staff attributing payroll issues to a “technical error,” but critics remain unconvinced. David Harsanyi pointed out that Politico had reported on USAID without disclosing its financial relationship with the agency. As scrutiny of USAID’s operations intensifies, further investigations may reveal additional media organizations that benefited from taxpayer funding.

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