Washington D.C. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the immediate closure of the State Department's Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI) office. Formerly known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC), the unit was established to counter disinformation and propaganda efforts from foreign governments.
Rubio stated that the decision to close R/FIMI was based on a reassessment of its effectiveness and strategic alignment with current priorities. "This office, frankly, was supposed to be dead already," Rubio said in a press briefing. He did not elaborate on the specific reasons for the closure but indicated that the department would explore alternative approaches to address foreign disinformation threats.
The move has sparked debate among national security experts. Some argue that dismantling a dedicated counter-disinformation unit weakens the U.S.'s ability to respond to increasingly sophisticated information warfare tactics. Others suggest that the office was ineffective and that its resources could be better utilized elsewhere within the State Department.
The future of the GEC's functions and responsibilities remains unclear. The State Department has yet to announce specific plans for how it will continue to combat foreign disinformation campaigns in the absence of R/FIMI.
State Department Disbands Counter-Disinformation Unit
The State Department is shutting down its Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office, previously known as the Global Engagement Center. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the closure, stating the unit should have been discontinued earlier. The office was tasked with combating foreign disinformation campaigns. Critics question the timing and potential impact on national security.