The U.S. government has been funneling taxpayer money to major media outlets like the New York Times, Politico, and the Associated Press. Records show the New York Times alone received over $60 million in government funds over the past five years. Conservatives argue this cash flow raises serious questions about media independence and fairness.
Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump have led the charge against these payments. Musk called the Times “government-funded media” and called the spending a waste of tax dollars. Trump accused USAID of secretly paying off liberal news groups to push Democratic Party talking points. Reports show Politico got $8 million from the government while attacking Trump and his supporters.
The bulk of the money went to the New York Times, including $26.9 million from the Department of Health and Human Services. Critics say this funding exploded under Biden, with $4.1 million sent to the Times in August 2024 alone. The timing matched key political moments, like the war in Ukraine and the 2024 election. Many wonder if the “paper of record” became a mouthpiece for the administration.
The Trump administration has taken action to stop the flow of cash. Over $40 million in government subscriptions to the Times were canceled. USAID is being shut down, with thousands of employees placed on leave. Trump claims the agency wasted money on “fake news” instead of helping Americans or promoting real democracy abroad.
The New York Times defended the payments as standard subscription fees. But conservatives aren’t buying it. They point out the Times ran constant anti-Trump stories while taking millions from his political rivals. The paper also pushed pro-Ukraine war coverage as Biden sent billions overseas.
Politico faced its own scandal when employees reportedly missed paychecks after government funds dried up. Critics joked that without taxpayer cash, the outlet couldn’t even pay its workers. Trump supporters celebrated this as a win against media bias. The White House vowed to cancel all remaining payments to “activist journalism” groups.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency exposed the $60 million in media spending. His team created a public tracker showing every dollar saved by cutting these contracts. Musk argued that real news shouldn’t need government handouts. His fans cheered the move as a strike against corrupt “legacy media.”
This scandal highlights a growing divide. Conservatives see a broken system where liberal media gets rich off taxpayer money while pushing partisan agendas. Trump and Musk promise more cuts to “woke” programs. As the 2024 election heats up, media funding remains a major battleground for America’s soul.
