Amid growing geopolitical tensions and escalating information wars, the US Congress is increasing pressure on the State Department to develop a comprehensive plan to counter disinformation campaigns sponsored by Russia and China. This demand reflects the concern of American lawmakers that the weakening of existing mechanisms to combat foreign propaganda leaves the US vulnerable to manipulation that undermines national security and international alliances. According to recent reports and statements, Congress is insisting on the restoration and modernization of structures similar to the now-closed Global Engagement Center (GEC) in order to effectively counter threats from Moscow and Beijing.
The Global Engagement Center, established in 2016 under the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act, has long served as a key tool for the State Department in combating foreign manipulation. The center coordinated efforts to identify and neutralize propaganda from adversarial states, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. The GEC published reports on China’s billion-dollar investments in global information control, exposed Russian campaigns to undermine support for Ukraine, and even facilitated international agreements involving two dozen countries to jointly counter disinformation.
However, in April 2025, shortly after the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second term as president, the GEC was officially closed. The decision was made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who called the center “antipathetic to the principles we must uphold.” The closure came amid criticism from Republicans who accused the GEC of censoring conservative voices in the United States and collaborating with organizations that allegedly suppress free speech. Funding for the center was cut in December 2024 when Congress failed to renew its authorization, leading to the collapse of the structure. Along with the GEC, other units were eliminated or weakened: the Office of Foreign Manipulation and Interference at the State Department, the Foreign Influence Task Force at the Justice Department, and the Center for Countering Malicious Foreign Influence at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
This decision provoked a sharp reaction both within the US and abroad. Russian and Chinese state media outlets such as RT and Global Times openly welcomed the closure, viewing it as a victory over American “information repression.” Experts, including former intelligence officials, warn that without GEC, the US is “almost defenseless” against Moscow and Beijing’s growing efforts to manipulate public opinion. A December 2025 report by the American Security Project (ASP) highlights that joint Russian-Chinese narratives have already led to real consequences, such as rising anti-American sentiment in Latin America and Europe.
Congress’s request to the State Department is not just a formality, but a signal of the need for a “holistic societal approach” to disinformation, as outlined in the State Department’s 2025 strategy. Experts such as Dana LaFon of the CFR recommend combining “pre-banking” with the development of “cognitive immunity” — teaching citizens to recognize manipulation. However, success depends on political will: the Trump administration, which is focused on “fighting censorship,” may face internal contradictions.
If implemented, the plan could lay the groundwork for renewing international memoranda terminated by the US in 2025 and strengthen Washington’s position in the global information war. Otherwise, as Defense One warns, “we risk leaving the world defenseless against Chinese and Russian narratives that are already shaping beliefs and actions.”
Congress is giving the State Department 90 days to submit a plan — a time when the stakes are particularly high. In an era when lies spread faster than the truth, restoring US leadership in this area could determine the outcome not only of information wars, but also of real conflicts.