State Department Plans to Continue Censoring Efforts Under New 'Counter Foreign Information Hub' – JP
Documents obtained by the Washington Examiner reveal that the U.S. State Department is preparing to redistribute employees from the now-shuttered Global Engagement Center (GEC) into a newly created “hub” that will continue similar activities, including efforts to counter what it calls foreign disinformation.
The GEC, which was originally established in 2016 to combat foreign influence and disinformation, has been a focal point of controversy, especially due to its involvement in funding initiatives that targeted conservative media outlets. Critics have accused the GEC of supporting groups that pressured advertisers to cut funding from conservative platforms, raising concerns about potential First Amendment violations.
On December 6, 2024, the State Department informed Congress of its plans to “realign” over 50 GEC employees, along with tens of millions in funding, into a new entity named the “Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Hub.” This new office will report to the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and aims to address foreign interference in media while ostensibly distancing itself from the activities of the former GEC.
The realignment will involve a total of $69 million in GEC funding, with $29.4 million allocated to the R/FIMI Hub. Senior GOP staffers have raised concerns that this could be a rebranding of the GEC, potentially allowing the same controversial practices to continue under a new name. They anticipate investigations into the State Department’s handling of the GEC’s closure, particularly given the allegations of censorship and violations of free speech.
Despite claims that the new hub will lack the grant-making authority that led to much of the GEC’s controversy, concerns persist about the potential for continued government overreach in regulating media and press freedom. Critics like Margot Cleveland, an attorney with the New Civil Liberties Alliance, argue that the GEC ignored its mandate to focus solely on foreign disinformation, and the new hub could continue this trend under a different guise.
Meanwhile, former top GEC officials have resurfaced in key positions within the State Department, including James P. Rubin, Leah Bray, and Daniel Kimmage, signaling that the core of the GEC’s operations may remain intact despite the office’s official closure.
This development has prompted further scrutiny and calls for accountability regarding government efforts to control media narratives and its impact on free speech. Conservative outlets like The Federalist and JP are already involved in lawsuits against the GEC for its role in funding organizations that have blacklisted conservative media. The ongoing legal battles highlight the growing tension between national security concerns and the protection of constitutional rights.