VA Saves $180K After Doug Collins Ends Politico Subscriptions

Newly appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins wasted no time in cutting government waste, announcing Monday that he had canceled a $178,000 contract with Politico a move that immediately redirected funds to veterans’ healthcare.

“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!” Collins posted on X.

Collins told Newsbusters that his decision was part of a larger effort to refocus the VA on serving veterans rather than funding political media outlets.

• The VA had been paying nearly $180,000 for Politico Pro subscriptions, a high-priced news service used by federal agencies.

• Collins called the move “a new day at VA,” emphasizing that he would put veterans first instead of wasting taxpayer money.

• His team is also working to eliminate costly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, saving millions more.

The revelation about the VA’s spending on Politico came as reports exposed an even larger pattern of government payments to media companies.

• Politico alone received $8 million in payments from federal agencies in FY 2024.

• Other outlets, including The New York Times and Associated Press, have received millions through government contracts and USAID funding.

• Elon Musk responded to Collins’ announcement by urging a broader review of government-funded media and software subscriptions.

This move marks an early win for fiscal responsibility in the Trump administration. Instead of funneling taxpayer dollars into left-wing media organizations, Collins is ensuring that resources go where they belong to the men and women who served this country.

If this is what he’s cutting in his first few weeks, just imagine what’s next.

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