UPDATE - State Department orders US embassies to cancel media subscriptions

ADDS RESPONSE FROM STATE DEPARTMENT

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US State Department has directed its embassies and consulates worldwide to pause all media subscriptions deemed "non-mission critical," a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu.

"The Department has paused all non-mission critical contracts for media subscriptions that are not academic or professional journals. Bureaus and posts can request an exemption with justification as to why the access is mission critical, how it aligns with the Secretary’s priorities, and how impacts the safety, security, and welfare of the workforce," the spokesperson said.

According to the Washington Post, which first reported the story, a Feb. 11 directive instructed US diplomatic posts to "immediately place Stop Work Orders on all non-mission critical contracts/purchase orders for media subscriptions (publications, periodicals, and newspaper subscriptions) that are not academic or professional journals."

The directive, which applies to hundreds of US diplomatic offices, came amid broader federal cost-cutting efforts by the Trump administration.

A State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Post that restricting access to major news sources "could hinder assessments of threats".

A follow-up memo on Feb. 14 reportedly instructed staff to prioritize canceling subscriptions to major outlets, including The Economist, The New York Times, Politico, Bloomberg News, The Associated Press and Reuters.

State Department employees can appeal to retain specific subscriptions but must provide strong justifications.