Trump Demands Reuters Return $9 Million Amid Controversy Over Defense Contract
President Donald Trump has called for Reuters to return $9 million in federal funds following revelations that the media company’s parent organization received a Pentagon contract related to cybersecurity research. The discovery, made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sparked a political firestorm.
The controversy stems from a 2018 contract awarded to Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS), a subsidiary of Reuters’ parent company. The contract, which ran through 2022, was issued by the Department of Defense to study large-scale social deception as part of cybersecurity initiatives. DOGE, led by Elon Musk, flagged the contract, prompting Trump’s demand for an immediate refund.
On Truth Social, Trump wrote: “DOGE: Looks like Radical Left Reuters was paid $9,000,000 by the Department of Defense to study ‘large scale social deception.’ GIVE BACK THE MONEY, NOW!”
Musk echoed similar sentiments on X, stating that the payment was “literally” for studying social deception. The news has fueled concerns about media-government ties, with critics arguing that news agencies should not be involved in projects related to information control.
Reuters and its parent company have responded by clarifying that TRSS operates independently from Reuters News and has worked with the U.S. government for years on risk management and fraud prevention. The contract in question, according to TRSS, was focused on cybersecurity defenses rather than media influence.
The Trump administration’s push to reclaim taxpayer dollars aligns with broader efforts to scrutinize government spending, a shift from the approach taken under former President Joe Biden’s administration. DOGE is expected to continue investigating similar contracts, with more disclosures anticipated in the coming days.
