Politico Employees Experience Late Pay Amid Concerns Over Musk’s Spending Cuts

Politico Employees Experience Late Pay Amid Concerns Over Musk’s Spending Cuts

This week, employees at Politico faced an unexpected delay in their bi-weekly direct deposits, igniting frustrations among staff members. Many believe that Elon Musk’s recent decisions regarding government spending may have contributed to the late payments.

Recent financial records show that Politico has received over $8.2 million from the U.S. government in recent years. Of that amount, $44,000 has come from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), according to data sourced from USAspending.gov. Musk, who is currently overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), announced intentions to reduce funding for USAID.

Delayed Payments Trigger Employee Concerns

Typically, Politico employees can expect their direct deposits every other Tuesday. However, this week began differently; numerous staff members reported waking up to find their accounts without funds. An anonymous employee reported to Fox News Digital that management only addressed the payment issue at 9 a.m., stating it was a “technical error.”

This explanation failed to ease the anxiety among many Politico staffers who expressed worries over their ability to cover bills and avoid overdraft charges. After several hours of uncertainty, management reassured employees that the payment issue was simply a technical glitch between the bank and payroll providers, affirming that all employees would receive their payments by the end of the day.

Payments Delayed Until Late Afternoon

By the end of the day, employees were indeed paid, but not until after 5 p.m. ET, and the funds did not clear until the following morning. One affected staffer lamented, “Politico screwed a lot of people.” Such sentiments were echoed throughout the organization as frustration mounted.

A spokesperson for Politico acknowledged the delays, stating, “Employees were paid yesterday; there was a technical error that was remedied in a matter of hours.” However, when asked about potential links between Musk’s spending cuts and the delayed payments, Politico has not provided a clear response.

Understanding Politico’s Financial Ties

While it is true that Politico has received funds from USAID, this is not the primary source of its government financing. The Department of Health and Human Services has provided the most significant funding, totaling approximately $1.37 million, followed closely by $1.35 million from the Department of the Interior.

Other agencies contributing to Politico include the Department of Energy with $1.29 million, the Department of Agriculture with $552,024, and the Department of Commerce with $485,572. This influx of funding appears to have increased notably during the Biden administration.

Musk’s Comments Stir Speculation

As employees continued to express dissatisfaction over the late deposit, Elon Musk responded to a social media post claiming that the Department of Health and Human Services allocated around $500,000 for a Politico Pro subscription. Musk’s inquiry, stating, “This is odd,” escalated staff concerns from frustration over payment delays to anxieties regarding Musk’s comments.

Immediately following Musk’s post, social media became a battleground for opinions, with some alleging that government funds were continuously supporting Politico. Yet, others emphasized that Politico’s subscription services are essential for many government employees, which typically cost between $12,000 to $15,000 for a base package of three users.

A Shift in Government Funding Dynamics

It’s noteworthy that while Politico has received modest funding from government sources in prior administrations, this trend has seemingly accelerated under the current administration, suggesting a shift in how government funding is allocated to media outlets.

The late payment incident at Politico raises questions about the reliability of financial processes within media organizations that rely on government contracts. Employees not only navigated the stress of delayed payments; they now face uncertainties regarding their employer’s financial stability and potential impacts from external spending cuts.

Employee Sentiments and Future Concerns

As the dust settles from this recent payroll debacle, many Politico staffers remain vigilant and concerned about the organization’s financial practices. It is crucial for management to address employee anxiety and restore confidence in payroll reliability.

With scrutiny surrounding government expenditures heightened, staff members must keep a close eye on how future funding decisions could potentially impact their job security and financial well-being. The intersection of media, finance, and government policy may prove to be a continuing narrative for Politico as it navigates these challenges.

Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.