The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a U.S. State Department unit established in 2016 to counter foreign disinformation, has shut down after Congress failed to extend its funding.

“The Global Engagement Center closed on December 23, 2024,” it said on its website.

The closure comes amid growing concerns over disinformation campaigns from adversaries like Russia and China, mainly as they target global narratives and U.S. interests, reports Al Jazeera.

The GEC, with a budget of $61 million and a staff of about 120, was responsible for tracking and responding to foreign propaganda.

Its closure marks the first time in eight years that the State Department will lack a dedicated office to address disinformation from global rivals, Al Jazeera adds.

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The decision to terminate the GEC follows persistent criticism from Republican lawmakers who accused the center of censorship and surveillance of Americans.

The center also faced attacks from high-profile figures such as Elon Musk, who labeled it for media manipulation and the “worst offender in US government censorship.”

Despite these criticisms, GEC leaders defended their work, emphasizing its importance in combating foreign propaganda.

The GEC’s closure leaves a significant gap in U.S. efforts to counter misinformation campaigns, particularly those from Russia regarding the war in Ukraine and China’s global disinformation initiatives.

In response, the State Department has said it is consulting with Congress on potential next steps.

Meanwhile, the GEC’s shutdown follows the stripping of a funding extension from the final version of the bipartisan federal spending bill passed by Congress last week, Al Jazeera further adds.

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