DOGE Investigation: DOD Paid Reuters Millions for ‘Large Scale Social Deception’ Project

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) investigators have uncovered a Department of Defense (DoD) contract paying Reuters news agency $9 million for a “large scale social deception” project between 2018-2022.

The contract was uncovered after Reuters released a hit piece on Elon Musk’s DOGE team efforts to uncover government fraud and waste on Wednesday.

🚨🇺🇸 DOD PAID REUTERS $9M FOR “SOCIAL ENGINEERING” PROGRAM

DOGE investigations reveal mysterious Defense Department payments to Reuters for “large scale social deception” project between 2018-2022.

While DARPA claims it was for cyber defense, questions swirl about why a news… https://t.co/8jfgRLW8Fv pic.twitter.com/DAcppcf2j9

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 13, 2025

The discovery about Reuters being paid millions by the DoD is the latest in a growing list of media sources who have been recipients of millions of federal tax dollars.

According to Rasmussen Reports, Politico received $34.3 million, the NY Times $50 million, the Associated Press $19.5 million, the BBC $3.3 million and Reuters $9 million.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) claims that the money paid to Reuters was a cyber defense contract to protect the U.S. government from “social engineering” in which people are tricked into divulging sensitive information.

American Greatness reported earlier this month that taxpayer dollars were funneled through USAID to more than 6,200 journalists and 707 news outlets in 30 different countries.

Reuters published a story yesterday attempting to deflect criticism of the news agency by clarifying that the $9 million contract in question was paid to the Thomson Reuters Special Services consulting firm which is a separate legal entity.

Thomson Reuters Special Services says it has received over $120 million in contracts since 2010 from multiple federal agencies including the Dept. of Homeland Security and the DoD.

President Trump did not appear to be swayed by Reuters’ claims of noble intentions behind the payment of millions of taxpayer dollars by the DoD for the study of “large scale social deception” and demanded that the money be returned immediately.

Reuters received far more money than this from US government organizations, but via various subsidiaries and intermediaries to hide how they were getting it.

This is just what @DOGE has found so far. pic.twitter.com/PXbL1OkEKO

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2025