The VA canceled a nearly $200,000 contract with Politico this week. (Screenshot/Politico, (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) )
"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."
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The move comes after Politico denied claims that it was a "beneficiary of government programs" last week upon revelations of millions of dollars worth of contracts with federal agencies.
"As surely many of you saw today, there was a spirited discussion at the White House and among officials connected to the Department of Government Efficiency on the subject of government subscriptions for journalism products, at POLITICO and other news organizations," Politico's CEO Goli Sheikholeslami and editor-in-chief John Harris jointly wrote to staff on Wednesday in a memo obtained by Fox News Digital.
"This is a fine conversation to have, and we welcome it. The value of POLITICO subscriptions is validated daily in the marketplace. Some parts of today’s conversation, however, were confusing and left some people with false understandings. For this reason, we want you to hear from us on several points."
VA Secretary Doug Collins announced he was cutting a six-figure contract with Politico.
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Politico received taxpayer funding for its costly subscription service from elsewhere in the federal government. The Department of Health and Human Services led the way, with $1.37 million followed by $1.35 million from the Department of the Interior, according to USAspending.gov.
The Department of Energy paid Politico $1.29 million, the Department of Agriculture paid $552,024 and the Department of Commerce paid $485,572.
Regarding Collins' Monday announcement, a Politico spokesperson told Fox News Media, "POLITICO Pro tracks policy, legislation, and regulations in real-time with news, intelligence, and a suite of data products. Using the POLITICO Pro platform—which is distinct and separate from POLITICO.com—ultimately increases transparency, efficiency, and accountability for those trying to navigate the massive labyrinth of the federal government, including those working in the government itself."
Fox News' Brian Flood contributed to this report
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/department-veterans-affairs-cancels-178k-subscriptions-politico-pro