Spending Bill Grants $117M and One-Year Extension to State Department's Global Engagement Center Amid Censorship Controversy

Dec 18, 2024, 06:01 PM

A provision in a 1,547-page spending bill to prevent a government shutdown includes a one-year extension for the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC), along with $117 million in funding. The GEC, established in 2016 to counter foreign disinformation and staffed by approximately 180 employees with a budget of $61 million, has been criticized by conservatives for allegedly funding efforts to suppress conservative speech online. The extension comes despite earlier plans by the State Department to terminate the GEC due to loss of Republican support. The provision has sparked controversy among conservative Republicans, who view it as a betrayal, especially since the GEC is currently facing lawsuits from media organizations like the Federalist and the Daily Wire for its alleged role in censorship efforts.