US government cuts ties with top news outlets in radical cost-cutting move

The US State Department has ordered the cancellation of all non-essential news subscriptions, according to internal communications. 

A February 11 memo to US embassies and consulates in Europe stated the move was aimed at cutting costs, specifying that only academic or professional journals should be retained, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The directive applies globally, affecting hundreds of diplomatic missions. It prioritizes the termination of contracts with six news organizations: the Economist, the New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg News, the Associated Press, and Reuters.

Staff can request exceptions if a subscription is deemed critical for the safety of US personnel or meets specific criteria related to national security. However, employees have raised concerns that ending access to local news could hinder diplomatic operations and compromise safety.

The move follows similar cancellations of media subscriptions by other government agencies, including the Agriculture Department and the General Services Administration.

The decision is seen as part of a broader effort to reduce government spending, echoing past measures from the Trump administration to limit media contracts.

By Aghakazim Guliyev