Trump Orders Termination of 'Every Single Media Contract' Expensed by Government Communication Agency: Report

President Donald Trump ordered the General Services Administration (GSA) to cancel all media-related contracts funded by the agency Thursday after alleging that "billions of dollars have been stolen... much of it going to the fake news media as a 'payoff' for creating good stories about the Democrats."

"GSA team, please do two things," a Trump administration official instructed in an email obtained by Axios. "Pull all contracts for Politico, BBC, E&E (Politico sub) and Bloomberg. Pull all media contracts for just GSA—cancel every single media contract today for GSA only."

The move comes after Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) uncovered millions of dollars in government agency subscriptions to Politico Pro, a policy-tracking service widely used in Washington. Their discovery, made through a public database, fueled speculation on X about the Biden administration allegedly "funding" anti-Trump outlets.

According to USAspending.gov records, USAID paid $44,000 for Politico's energy and environmental news subscriptions in 2023 and 2024. Across all government agencies, Politico services reportedly exceeded $8 million in 2024.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Wednesday that the executive branch would halt spending on Politico subscriptions. GSA, which oversees real estate, procurement, and tech services for the federal government, has also announced cuts to other contracts, including a Treasury Department deal with The New York Times.

"POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding—no subsidies, no grants, no handouts. Not one dime, ever, in 18 years," wrote Politico Media Group CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and Politico Global Editor-in-Chief John Harris.

A White House adviser anonymously suggested that the effort to cut media subscriptions aligns with Trump's broader agenda against mainstream media.

"The eye of Sauron is on more than just Politico," the adviser said. "It's all the media."

Last month, the White House opened its briefing room to independent journalists, social media influencers, and podcasters, a move officials say fosters a "more equitable" space by expanding access beyond legacy media. The shift aligns with Trump's re-election strategy, which prioritized niche platforms over traditional press.