The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled a $178,000 subscription to Politico Pro, citing 'wasteful spending' and vowing to prioritize veteran healthcare. This move follows revelations that the federal government has spent over $8 million on Politico subscriptions in recent years.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled a $178,000 subscription to Politico Pro, VA Secretary Doug Collins announced on Monday. Collins disclosed the cancellation on X, stating that his office had recently become aware of the contract. This move follows revelations from the Trump administration that the federal government had spent over $8 million on Politico subscriptions in recent years.
\Collins expressed his stance on the matter, writing, 'Ran across a $178,000 contract VA had with Politico and we promptly canceled it. That money can be better spent on Veterans health care!' He further elaborated to Fox News Digital, 'It’s a new day at VA,' Collins said. '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.' \The cancellation comes amidst Politico denying claims of being a 'beneficiary of government programs' last week, following revelations of millions of dollars in contracts with federal agencies. Politico's CEO, Goli Sheikholeslami, and editor-in-chief, John Harris, addressed their staff in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital, stating, 'This is a fine conversation to have, and we welcome it. The value of POLITICO subscriptions is validated daily in the marketplace. Some parts of today’s conversation, however, were confusing and left some people with false understandings. For this reason, we want you to hear from us on several points.' They emphasized that Politico 'has never been a beneficiary of government programs or subsidies—not one cent, ever, in 18 years' and highlighted that its subscription service, Politico Pro, 'provides both private and public sector clients with granular, fact-based reporting, real-time intelligence, and tracking tools across key policy areas.' \While speculation on social media suggested that the $8 million in question originated solely from USAID, the agency currently under scrutiny by DOGE co-founder Elon Musk, only $44,000 of the amount came from USAID. Base subscriptions typically range from $12,000 to $15,000 for three users. \Further analysis of taxpayer funding reveals that Politico received substantial sums from various departments within the federal government. The Department of Health and Human Services led the way with $1.37 million, followed by $1.35 million from the Department of the Interior. The Department of Energy contributed $1.29 million, the Department of Agriculture paid $552,024, and the Department of Commerce chipped in $485,572, according to USAspending.gov. \Regarding Collins' announcement, a Politico spokesperson told Fox News Media, 'POLITICO Pro tracks policy, legislation, and regulations in real-time with news, intelligence, and a suite of data products. Using the POLITICO Pro platform—which is distinct and separate from POLITICO.com—ultimately increases transparency, efficiency, and accountability for those trying to navigate the massive labyrinth of the federal government, including those working in the government itself.
POLITICAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING VETERANS AFFAIRS POLITICO PRO FEDERAL CONTRACTS ELON MUSK USAID
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