Despite facing criticism and legal challenges, the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC) is poised to receive renewed funding through a continuing resolution (CR) bill currently under consideration in Congress. This development comes as a surprise, particularly following the State Department's statement in a recent lawsuit indicating its intention to shut down the agency by December 23rd.
The GEC's funding is outlined on page 139 of the CR under "Foreign Affairs Section 301. Global Engagement Center Extension." While the exact budget allocation isn't specified, previous reports indicate a substantial FY 2020 budget of $74.26 million. The GEC has drawn considerable fire from conservatives, who allege the agency blacklists American individuals and news outlets. Journalist Matt Taibbi has been particularly vocal about his concerns, highlighting the GEC's role in what he describes as an insidious form of blacklisting during the pandemic. Taibbi's reporting on the Twitter Files revealed the GEC's practice of flagging accounts based on criteria such as labeling the coronavirus an engineered bioweapon or attributing its origins to the CIA.
Elon Musk, owner of Twitter, has also publicly criticized the GEC, labeling it a threat to democracy and the "worst offender" in government censorship and media manipulation. The GEC's influence extends beyond the State Department, partnering with agencies like the FBI, CIA, NSA, and DHS. It also funds the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), which has been accused of using taxpayer money to track Americans, a claim its director denies.
A 2024 House Small Business Committee report further scrutinized the GEC for granting funds to organizations involved in tracking both domestic and foreign misinformation. The agency's practices have also been challenged in a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Daily Wire, and the Federalist, alleging a conspiracy to censor and deplatform conservative media outlets. The lawsuit describes the GEC's actions as an egregious attack on the First Amendment. Adding to the controversy, America First Legal revealed the GEC's involvement in creating a video game, "Cat Park," aimed at "inoculating youth against disinformation." Critics argue the game promotes specific political viewpoints rather than addressing foreign disinformation.
