The Department of Veterans Affairs has canceled $178,000 worth of subscriptions to Politico Pro, Secretary Doug Collins announced Monday, citing a renewed focus on cutting unnecessary spending.
Collins shared the decision on X, saying his office had only recently learned of the contract. The cancellation follows revelations that federal agencies collectively spent more than $8 million on Politico subscriptions in recent years.
“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 wrote.
Speaking to The News Focus, Collins added: “It’s a new day at VA. We’re putting Veterans at the center of everything the department does, focusing relentlessly on customer service and convenience. That means cutting wasteful spending and redirecting resources toward programs that benefit Veterans, families, survivors and caregivers.”
Politico Pushes Back
The move comes after Politico rejected claims that it benefited from government subsidies. In a memo to staff, Politico CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and editor-in-chief John Harris stressed that the outlet “has never been a beneficiary of government programs or subsidies—not one cent, ever, in 18 years.”
They defended the Politico Pro platform, which provides detailed policy coverage and data tools for both public- and private-sector clients. Subscriptions typically cost between $12,000 and $15,000 for three users.
Millions Spent Across Agencies
While VA’s canceled contract totaled $178,000, federal records show that the Department of Health and Human Services spent $1.37 million on Politico Pro, followed by $1.35 million from the Department of the Interior. Other agencies also subscribed, including the Department of Energy ($1.29 million), Department of Agriculture ($552,024), and Department of Commerce ($485,572), according to USAspending.gov.
A Politico spokesperson told The News Focus: “POLITICO Pro tracks policy, legislation, and regulations in real time with news, intelligence, and a suite of data products. Using the platform ultimately increases transparency, efficiency, and accountability for those navigating the massive labyrinth of the federal government, including those working inside it.”
