US government agency targeting foreign disinformation shuts down

The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a State Department unit established in 2016, has shut down due to a lack of funding from Congress amid Republican criticisms.

The GEC, with its annual budget of $61m and about 120 staff, leaves the State Department without focused capabilities for disinformation tracking from adversaries.

Critics, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk, have targeted the GEC, alleging it censors Americans and threatens democracy, complicating its funding and operation support.

Despite the backlash, GEC officials argue their work is essential to countering the escalating threats of foreign disinformation, particularly from nations like Russia and China.

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