The Trump Administration has announced the closure of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office, also known as the Global Engagement Center. This agency, which cost American taxpayers over $50 million annually, is being shut down amid allegations of censoring political speech and blacklisting media outlets. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, stating that the office had shifted its focus from countering foreign disinformation to targeting the speech of American citizens, which he deemed as antithetical to American values.
The Global Engagement Center came under fire for funding third-party organizations that were accused of suppressing domestic news sources, particularly those with right-leaning editorial stances. The Daily Wire and The Washington Free Beacon sued over being blacklisted, and congressional Republicans launched inquiries into the center’s activities. Under the previous administration, the office spent millions of dollars silencing and censoring the voices of Americans.
This decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump Administration to dismantle government programs seen as infringing on First Amendment rights. The closure of the GEC, originally formed by President Barack Obama in 2016, will redirect remaining funds to address actual foreign threats rather than targeting American citizens. This move aligns with President Trump’s campaign promise to restore freedom of speech and eliminate censorship. The closure will take effect immediately, with the State Department focusing on addressing foreign threats without encroaching on the rights of American citizens.
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