Public spending records show that Reuters News & Media has received more than $1.2 billion in federal contracts since 2008, making it one of the largest media beneficiaries of taxpayer funds. The contracts, issued by agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, have raised concerns about government influence over media organizations.
Additionally, Thomson Reuters Special Services LLC, a separate but affiliated company, has been awarded $120 million since 2010. A contract with the Department of Defense gained attention for its language referencing “social deception” and “social engineering,” leading to speculation about what Reuters’ government-funded work actually entails.
BREAKING:
Reuters received millions from the US government for orchestrating "large-scale social deception"#USAID #News pic.twitter.com/IS19vMtKxh
— Stand Tall n Roar (@standtallnroar) February 13, 2025
Elon Musk brought the issue to the forefront on social media, questioning why Reuters received payments for operations seemingly unrelated to journalism. His remarks came in response to a Reuters article attacking DOGE, leading to heightened scrutiny over the outlet’s financial relationship with the federal government.
USAID Tax Dollars subsidized mainstream news outlets in America:
•POLITICO: $34.3M
•NY TIMES: $50M
•ASSOCIATED PRESS: $19.5M
•REUTERS: $9M
•$220,000 from the Department of State just last year.
•BBC: British Government TV received $3.3MAnother "conspiracy theory"… pic.twitter.com/rbecox45cH
— DonaldTrump1_ (@tyranny_stop) February 8, 2025
Further controversy surrounds USAID’s use of taxpayer money, with millions spent on projects such as a DEI musical in Ireland, gender activism programs in Guatemala, and poppy field irrigation in Afghanistan—ultimately benefiting heroin production controlled by the Taliban. Other funds have reportedly been linked to organizations with terrorist affiliations.
USAID paid Reuters for "Large Scale Social Deception" and "Social Engineering Defence" between 2018 and 2022. DOGE just published the invoice from Reuter. Just sayin' … pic.twitter.com/vpEyAJc3gv
— AINIRO (@AIniroTeam) February 13, 2025
With these spending revelations sparking outrage, calls for an investigation into media funding have grown. Congressional Republicans are pressing for answers on why taxpayer dollars have been funneled into major media outlets that have been openly hostile to the Trump administration.
As the push for financial accountability continues, federal contracts awarded to news organizations are likely to remain under scrutiny.
