Politico’s Payroll Issues Raise Concerns About USAID’s Media Influence

Politico’s recent payroll failure has intensified concerns about USAID’s financial role in media funding. Several journalists and investigators on X have suggested that Politico relied on taxpayer dollars, which were abruptly cut off following an order by President Donald Trump to audit USAID.

Journalist Liz Wheeler reported on X that Politico had received $34.3 million from multiple federal agencies, not just the $8 million linked to USAID. According to Wheeler, the funding began in 2015, the same year Trump entered politics, and escalated under Biden. She also named the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Agriculture as agencies that sent money to Politico.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) raised concerns about these payments, questioning why the government was funding a media outlet known for its left-leaning reporting. Other commentators on X, including Sara Rose and Paul A. Szypula, noted that Politico’s missed payroll came right after USAID’s funding was frozen. Szypula suggested the outlet was “bankrolled” by USAID and could be in financial trouble.

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

Journalist Breanna Morello alleged that USAID had also provided funds to the New York Times and BBC, reinforcing claims that the agency was using taxpayer dollars to influence media coverage. According to figures shared by David Procino, Politico received an estimated $32 million, while the New York Times and BBC took in $3.1 million and $3.2 million respectively.

The situation follows a major shake-up at USAID after Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, took control of its headquarters. Reports indicate that more than 600 employees were locked out, and USAID’s financial networks were seized. The White House stated that USAID had misused funds on political efforts rather than humanitarian missions, with reports also tying the agency’s financial dealings to Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company connected to Hunter Biden.

Politico leadership attributed the payroll delay to a “technical error,” but skepticism remains. Journalist David Harsanyi pointed out that Politico reported on USAID without revealing its own financial ties to the agency. With pressure mounting, calls for deeper investigations into USAID’s role in media funding continue to grow.

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