RegTech Times via MSN: “The U.S. State Department has issued a directive to cancel all news subscriptions deemed “non-mission critical” across embassies and consulates worldwide. The move is part of a broader cost-cutting initiative, aligning with efforts to reduce government spending on media contracts. Sweeping Cancellation of News Subscriptions – Internal emails revealed that diplomatic posts were ordered to stop all purchases of newspapers, magazines, and online news subscriptions unless they were academic or professional journals. A memo sent on February 11 to diplomatic missions, particularly in Europe, detailed the new policy. Embassies and consulates were instructed to issue “Stop Work Orders” on existing news subscriptions that did not directly contribute to their mission. This mandate extends to hundreds of U.S. embassies and consulates across the globe, affecting access to critical news sources used for decision-making. Officials who rely on news coverage to assess security risks and geopolitical developments have raised concerns about the order. Diplomats stationed in foreign countries depend on reliable news sources, including local newspapers, to stay informed about events that could impact their operations. With the cancellation of these subscriptions, they worry that embassies might struggle to gather vital information needed for security and diplomatic planning. A State Department official speaking on the condition of anonymity highlighted the potential dangers of this policy. According to the official, embassy security teams use media reports to evaluate risks before diplomatic travel, especially in politically unstable or conflict-prone regions. Without access to timely and credible news sources, there is concern that embassies could face challenges in identifying emerging threats and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel abroad…”

See also – Mediate via MSN: “President Donald Trump ordered on Thursday that the federal government end all paid news subscriptions for employees and agency offices across the executive branch. According to an email obtained by Axios, the White House told the General Services Administration to terminate “every single media contract” paid for by the federal government. A Trump administration official wrote the following in the email: “Pull all contracts for Politico, BBC, E&E (Politico sub) and Bloomberg. Pull all media contracts for just GSA – cancel every single media contract today for GSA only.” The GSA is responsible for the federal government’s services relating to procurement, technology, and real estate. The recent decision by the Trump administration comes days after Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency wrongly claimed that Politico was receiving millions of dollars in federal subsidies. The payments turned out to be years of payments to Politico Pro, a service that tracks legislation on Capitol Hill…”