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The Global Engagement Center (GEC), a State Department entity accused of censorship, is set to expire on December 23, 2024, according to recent court documents in The Daily Wire LLC et al v. United States Department of State et al case.

While the filing indicates Congress is unlikely to reauthorize the GEC, the State Department has already prepared contingency plans to redistribute the center’s staff and funding to other departments for similar activities.

Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are pushing to extend the center’s existence. “It has played an indispensable role in combating Russian and Chinese disinformation. It would unnecessarily undermine U.S. national security if we eliminated this tool,” Murphy stated. The senators have proposed an amendment to extend the center’s mandate through 2031.

The center, currently led by Clinton-era veteran James Rubin, operates with approximately 180 staff and a $61 million budget. However, recent investigations have revealed the GEC’s involvement in censoring both American and foreign citizens, particularly conservatives.

Records show the GEC, along with the National Endowment for Democracy, provided $665,000 to the Global Disinformation Index during 2020-2021. This funding coincided with efforts to financially de-platform conservative news outlets.

Mike Benz, Executive Director of Foundation for Freedom Online, traced the GEC’s origins to the Obama administration, where it began as a mechanism for flagging ISIS-related content on social media platforms.

A 2023 House Judiciary report highlighted the GEC’s controversial activities, including its collaboration with the Election Integrity Partnership to monitor online speech during the 2020 presidential election.

While the GEC’s potential termination appears imminent, plans to redistribute its functions suggest its activities may continue under different departmental umbrellas, similar to recent proposals to restructure other government entities like the Department of Education.