Secretary of State Marco Rubio has finally shut down a State Department office that had been tasked with censoring free speech.
The office axed by Rubio was previously known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC).
It was later renamed to the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI).
It had faced criticism for continuing operations despite an apparent funding cut, as Fox News reports.
Rubio outlined that R/FIMI was a costly endeavor, claiming its annual expenses exceeded $50 million.
According to Rubio, these funds were spent on activities that suppressed Americans’ First Amendment rights instead of promoting them.
Rubio emphasized that the office’s operations persisted under a new name following a funding sunset initiated by Republicans.
He articulated that despite the renaming from GEC to R/FIMI, the office maintained its same staff, aiming to transition under the new administration’s guise.
The secretary further elaborated on his intentions by stating that the renaming was a ploy to continue operating as if nothing had changed.
The claim that such maneuvers should cease was definitive in Rubio’s announcement.
He assured that the office, whether under its original or new name, would not resume operations.
The closure has sparked reactions from political allies.