State Department's Global Engagement Center Shuts Down After Funding Cut

The agency, accused of censorship and media manipulation, ends operations following bipartisan Congressional decision to withhold reauthorization.

The Global Engagement Center (GEC), created in 2016 to counter foreign disinformation, officially closed on December 23, 2024, after Congress declined to extend its funding.
The GEC faced significant criticism from Republican lawmakers and figures like Elon Musk, who accused it of suppressing conservative voices and overstepping its mandate to combat foreign propaganda.
The agency was originally tasked with addressing disinformation from state and non-state actors, including Russia and China, but its role expanded to include partnerships with domestic organizations, raising concerns over free speech violations.
Efforts to save the GEC, including proposed amendments requiring nonpartisan activities, failed to gain sufficient bipartisan support in the final spending bill.
The closure leaves a gap in U.S. efforts to counter global disinformation campaigns, though the State Department has stated it will explore alternative ways to continue this work.