The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, declared on Wednesday the permanent shutdown of the State Department's Office of Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, previously known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC). Rubio argued that the office's existence posed a threat to the free speech rights of American citizens. "For the past decade, Americans have been defamed, fired, prosecuted, and even jailed just for voicing their opinions. That ends today," Rubio stated in an official announcement on his X account (formerly Twitter).
He further explained, "I am declaring the closure of the GEC, which cost taxpayers over $50 million annually, and was focused on silencing and censoring the very Americans it was supposed to serve." This closure occurs amid the new administration of Donald Trump and the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which has announced the shutdown of several agencies, such as USAID, and budget cuts across nearly all state entities.
Founded in 2016, the Global Engagement Center was intended to coordinate international efforts against foreign propaganda, and recently spearheaded initiatives like the Ukraine Communications Group, a coalition based in Warsaw to counter Russian disinformation about the war in Ukraine. However, the center has often been the target of criticism from Republican lawmakers, who accused it of overstepping its mandate and acting as a surveillance and censorship tool against conservative voices.
Last December, a Republican-controlled Congress blocked the renewal of its funding. Among its most prominent critics is Elon Musk, who called the GEC "the worst censor in the U.S. government" and "a threat to our democracy." Former GEC officials defended its work, claiming it was crucial in combating organized disinformation campaigns from abroad, and warned that its closure leaves the U.S. without a specialized mechanism to counter these threats for the first time in eight years.
In addition to the GEC's closure, the State Department is expected to propose a significant reduction in its global diplomatic reach, slashing programs and shutting down embassies in an effort to cut its budget by nearly 50%, according to reports from American media.
Impact of GEC Closure on U.S. Foreign Policy
Why did Marco Rubio decide to close the Global Engagement Center?
Marco Rubio decided to close the Global Engagement Center because he believed it posed a threat to Americans' freedom of expression and was improperly censoring citizens it was meant to protect.
What was the role of the Global Engagement Center?
The Global Engagement Center was tasked with coordinating international efforts against foreign propaganda and managing initiatives like the Ukraine Communications Group to combat Russian disinformation.
How does the closure of the GEC affect U.S. defense against disinformation?
The closure of the GEC leaves the United States without a specialized mechanism to counter organized disinformation campaigns from abroad for the first time in eight years.
What other changes are expected from the State Department after the GEC's shutdown?
Following the GEC's shutdown, the State Department is expected to propose a major reduction in its global diplomatic presence, including cutting programs and closing embassies to reduce its budget by nearly 50%.