Texas taxpayers have funneled millions of dollars into media organizations—including Dallas Morning News—raising questions about whether Elon Musk and X will label them as “state-funded media” like they once did the BBC and NPR.

A recent investigation revealed that Texas state agencies have spent $6.7 million on various news outlets since 2016. Among the recipients, the Dallas Morning News ($428,096), Austin American-Statesman ($109,639), Houston Chronicle ($106,187), San Antonio Express-News ($71,024), and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram ($103,234). Politico, a subject of controversy over its federal funding, received $253,050.

The report, sourced from the Texas Comptroller’s spending database, has reignited debate over government influence in media. Funded sources always raise questions about journalistic integrity, and the revelation that much of the corporate press, supposed government watchdogs, is on the government dime inherently raises the questions again.

The controversy echoes a precedent set by Musk in 2023 when his platform labeled BBC and NPR as “government-funded media” due to their financial ties to public funding sources. That move sparked backlash, and NPR quit the platform in protest. The outlet contemporaneously ran the headline, “NPR quits Twitter after being falsely labeled as ‘state-affiliated media.'”

X would later remove the label from all news organizations, but the policy shift left questions about how the platform handles media outlets receiving government money.

Nevertheless, NPR insists that government funding is indispensable. According to NPR, “Federal funding is essential to public radio’s service to the American public and its continuation is critical for both stations and program producers, including NPR.”

Representatives from Dallas Morning News and other named outlets have not publicly addressed the state funding disclosures.

Only Politico has addressed its federal funding disclosures, stating in a note to its readers: “POLITICO is a privately owned company. We have never received any government funding — no subsidies, no grants, no handouts.” However, later, the outlet clarified that its sibling organization, POLITICO Pro, is partly supported by government subscriptions.

Given this pattern of federal funding, a question is being raised: Will  X reconsider its labeling policy for Texas-based outlets like Dallas Morning News?

The Dallas Express reached out to Musk and X’s Chief Communications Officer, Dave Heinzinger, but did not receive a response.