Veterans Affairs Ends $178,000 Subscription with Politico Pro Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts

Veterans Affairs Ends $178,000 Subscription with Politico Pro Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts

The Department of Veterans Affairs has officially canceled its $178,000 subscription contract with Politico Pro. This decision was communicated by VA Secretary Doug Collins on Monday.

In a statement shared on X, Collins indicated that his office became aware of the contract only recently. The cancellation follows revelations from the Trump administration that revealed substantial taxpayer funds had been used to pay for subscriptions to Politico, totaling more than $8 million in recent years.

Collins’ Commitment

Collins expressed his resolve in his announcement, stating, “I ran across a $178,000 contract VA had with Politico and we promptly canceled it. That money can be better spent on Veterans’ healthcare!” His emphasis on redirecting funds towards Veterans’ services underscored a commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of those who served the nation.

He elaborated further, explaining, “It’s a new day at VA. We’re putting Veterans at the center of everything the department does, focusing relentlessly on customer service and convenience. We’re working every day to find new and better ways of helping VA beneficiaries. That means cutting wasteful spending and redirecting resources toward programs that benefit Veterans, families, survivors, and caregivers.”

Controversy Surrounding Subscriptions

This move comes after Politico recently found itself in the spotlight, denying claims that it benefited from government programs. The controversy arose amid discussions about government spending and media subscriptions. Politico’s subscription fees and contracts with federal agencies drew scrutiny, leading to public debate about the appropriateness of taxpayer dollars used for such services.

Goli Sheikholeslami, Politico’s CEO, and editor-in-chief John Harris addressed staff concerns in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital. They outlined their position regarding government subscriptions to journalism products, affirming that the discussion was welcomed but had created some misunderstandings.

According to Sheikholeslami and Harris, “This is a fine conversation to have, and we welcome it. The value of POLITICO subscriptions is validated daily in the marketplace. However, some parts of today’s conversation were confusing and left some people with false understandings. For this reason, we want you to hear from us on several points.”

Importantly, they emphasized that Politico has never received any government subsidies, no matter the amount, since its establishment 18 years ago. They went on to highlight the subscription service, Politico Pro, as a provider of essential services to both private and public sector clients through granular reporting and real-time intelligence.

Taxpayer Funding Breakdown

Social media speculation suggested that most of the $8 million spent on Politico subscriptions originated from USAID, which is currently facing its own budgetary scrutiny. However, records show that only $44,000 of this total derived from USAID. Typically, base subscriptions for Politico Pro range from $12,000 to $15,000 for three users.

While the USAID amount was comparatively low, other federal agencies contributed significantly to this total expenditure. The Department of Health and Human Services topped the list with $1.37 million, followed closely by the Department of the Interior with $1.35 million. Additionally, the Department of Energy paid $1.29 million, while the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce contributed $552,024 and $485,572, respectively.

This financial reassessment within the Veterans Affairs department reflects a broader effort to use taxpayer dollars judiciously and prioritize essential services for military personnel and their families.

The recent developments from the Department of Veterans Affairs signal a shift in policy and philosophy, prioritizing spending that directly benefits Veterans over expensive media subscriptions. The implications of these actions highlight a growing commitment by federal agencies to be more accountable and mindful of financial resources in a climate of increasing scrutiny over government expenditures.

As this narrative unfolds, one can expect further discussions about the role of government contracts with media outlets, with potential impacts on how public information is disseminated in the future.

Fox News’ Brian Flood contributed to this report.