Department of Veterans Affairs cancels $178K in subscriptions to Politico Pro

The Department of Veterans Affairs made headlines this week after it was revealed that they had canceled a $178,000 subscription to Politico Pro. VA Secretary Doug Collins announced the decision on X, stating that his office had only recently become aware of the contract. This move comes after it was disclosed that the federal government had paid over $8 million to Politico in subscription fees in recent years.

Collins emphasized that the money saved from canceling the subscription will be redirected towards Veterans’ healthcare, a cause that he believes is more deserving of the funds. “It’s a new day at VA,” Collins told Fox News Digital. “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 decision to cancel the subscription comes amidst a larger conversation about government subscriptions for journalism products, with Politico at the center of the debate. Last week, Politico’s CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and editor-in-chief John Harris denied claims that the publication had received government subsidies, stressing that they have never benefited from government programs in their 18-year history. They highlighted the value of Politico Pro, their subscription service, which provides clients with detailed reporting and real-time intelligence across key policy areas.

While there was speculation on social media that the $8 million in question all came from USAID, only $44,000 of it actually did. The majority of the funding came from other federal agencies, with the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce all contributing significant amounts to Politico’s subscription fees.

In light of these revelations, the VA’s decision to cancel their subscription to Politico Pro is seen as a step towards more responsible spending and a greater focus on supporting Veterans. The funds saved from this move will now be directed towards programs that directly benefit those who have served our country.

Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Fox News Digital, contributed to this report. For more updates on national politics and major breaking news events, you can follow him on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.