DOGE uncovers secret payment of $9 million to Reuters, the world's biggest news company, for 'social deception' study --A furious Trump demands they pay the money back | 13 Feb 2025 | Donald Trump has demanded that his chief cost-cutter Elon Musk recover millions the federal government paid to Reuters for a mysterious "social engineering defense" project. The years-old contract was discovered by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and reveals that the Pentagon awarded $9.15 million to Thomson Reuters Special Services, LLC (TRSS). It began in September 2018, when President Trump was in office, and concluded in November 2022. The contract was filed under the Pentagon's "Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services" and "Research and Development" programs. TRSS is a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters Corporation, which is also the parent corporation for the news agency Reuters. The connection to the media company is likely what led to the outrage from DOGE, Musk and Trump over the huge contract.