Secretary of State Marco Rubio just fired everyone at Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, formerly the Global Engagement Center (GEC), saying they’ve “actively silenced and censored Americans “for simply voicing their opinions.”
He writes:
Over the last decade, Americans have been slandered, fired, charged, and even jailed for simply voicing their opinions.
That ends today.
I am announcing the closure of the @StateDept’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference, formerly the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which cost taxpayers more than $50 million per year and actively silenced and censored the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving.
Here’s more from Mike Benz on X:
BREAKING 🚨 The US State Department has just placed all 30 full-time staff at the Global Engagement Center’s remnant known as R-FIMI on leave, eliminated all 50 full-time staff positions and delivered a notice to Congress ending R-FIMI’s existence and $65 million in funding 🧵👇
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) April 16, 2025
While GEC was formally sunset late last year after a showdown in Congress to deny its reauthorization, the Biden State Department got around this by putting GEC’s staff and operations under a new name: the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office (R-FIMI).
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) April 16, 2025
Last month, @SecRubio and Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy @DarrenJBeattie terminated 100+ contractors that R-FIMI worked with, which formed a deep partner web between censorship operatives in the private sector and the muscle of the US gov’t to go after speech.
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) April 16, 2025
But in gov’t, it’s easier to terminate a contractor than a public employee. The structuring of today’s move as Stage 1 of a RIF to eliminate the office and dissolve the office entirely prevents the possibility of bureaucratic delays that come from contesting firings.
— Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) April 16, 2025