USAID’s Alleged Media Funding Sparks Controversy After Politico’s Payroll Issues

Politico’s failure to pay employees on time has raised concerns about whether the media outlet was reliant on USAID funding. Several journalists and investigators on X have suggested that Politico was quietly receiving taxpayer money for years, with payments suddenly stopping just as President Donald Trump cut off USAID funding and launched an audit of the agency.

Liz Wheeler reported that Politico received a total of $34.3 million from various federal agencies, far more than the previously reported $8 million from USAID. According to Wheeler, these payments began in 2015 and increased significantly under Biden. She also identified multiple government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, as sources of the funding.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) denounced the reported payments, questioning why taxpayer money was being funneled into a left-wing media outlet. Other commentators on X, such as Paul A. Szypula and Sara Rose, noted that Politico’s payroll failure occurred right after USAID’s funding was suspended. Szypula suggested that Politico might not survive without these payments.

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

Journalist Breanna Morello alleged that Politico was not the only outlet receiving USAID money, claiming that the New York Times and BBC also benefited from taxpayer funds. According to an estimate shared by David Procino, Politico reportedly took in $32 million, while the New York Times and BBC received $3.1 million and $3.2 million respectively.

The controversy follows a major shake-up at USAID, where Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the direction of Elon Musk, seized control of the agency’s headquarters. Reports indicate that over 600 employees were locked out, and USAID’s financial systems were taken over. The White House accused the agency of diverting taxpayer money toward political efforts, with some reports tying its funding to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company linked to Hunter Biden.

Politico has claimed that its payroll issue was a “technical error,” but skepticism remains. Journalist David Harsanyi pointed out that Politico had reported on USAID for years without disclosing that it had been receiving money from the agency. With pressure mounting, further investigations may reveal additional media organizations that benefited from taxpayer funding.

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