New York Times reportedly received millions in funding from U.S. government

Right-wing journalist Ian Miles Cheong recently sparked controversy on X (formerly Twitter) by revealing that the U.S. government has provided tens of millions of dollars to The New York Times (NYT) over the past five years. 

According to Cheong, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was the largest contributor, providing $26.9 million, while the National Science Foundation followed with $19.15 million. Notably, the U.S. government allocated $4.1 million to the NYT in August 2024 alone.

Cheong raised concerns about this funding, suggesting that it was used to "prop up" a struggling newspaper that publishes content aligned with certain political agendas, such as pro-Ukraine, anti-Trump, and anti-Elon Musk narratives. He further claimed that the timing of this funding coincided with key political events, including the onset of the war in Ukraine and the 2024 U.S. presidential election cycle. To back his claims, Cheong posted screenshots of funding receipts from USAspending.gov, a government platform that tracks U.S. federal spending.

USAspending.gov, established under the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA Act) of 2014, offers a publicly accessible, searchable database of federal spending across multiple agencies. This platform is designed to ensure transparency and accountability, providing users with access to financial data from more than 100 federal agencies. It aims to improve oversight of government spending by making financial data more accessible to the public.

Cheong’s revelations come amid growing scrutiny of U.S. government spending, especially under President Donald Trump’s administration. Reports suggest that Trump is drafting an executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, part of his broader campaign to reduce government spending and reorganize federal agencies. The order would direct the Secretary of Education to create a plan to diminish the department, which would require Congress' involvement for full dissolution.

In addition to this move, President Trump has ordered significant cuts to various government-funded programs. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency responsible for foreign aid and international development, is set to be affected. Thousands of USAID employees are reportedly being placed on leave, with the administration accusing the agency of wasting funds. Trump's administration intends to realign USAID with its policy priorities, signaling further downsizing of government operations.