Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday that the U.S. government is shutting down a State Department office that was created to combat foreign disinformation — but which Rubio now claims went far beyond its mandate.
Speaking in a live interview with conservative activist Mike Benz, Rubio accused the office, officially named the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office (R/FIMI), of using taxpayer funds to suppress American voices. “We had government-sponsored censorship in the United States through the State Department,” he said.
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According to The Washington Post, Rubio claimed the office spent millions targeting not only foreign propaganda but also Americans who shared controversial views on social media. He specifically pointed to the office allegedly deplatforming people for questioning the origins of COVID-19.
Benz echoed Rubio’s claims in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the decision would eliminate 50 full-time positions at the office. He also noted that the State Department informed Congress that $65 million in funding would be cut as a result of the closure.
Rubio’s comments sparked fresh debate about the role of the government in moderating online discourse, especially when it comes to controversial or politically sensitive topics. He said the State Department would launch a probe into how Americans were “deplatformed,” a concern often raised by right-wing figures who argue that social media companies, sometimes with government influence, have silenced dissenting voices.
The office’s closure also comes as the Trump administration moves to dramatically cut federal spending, with broader goals of reducing trillions from the budget. Despite these cuts, the issue of foreign disinformation remains a significant concern. Countries like Russia, China, Iran, and Israel continue to run aggressive influence campaigns using social media bots, online influencers, media outlets, and AI-generated content to sway public opinion and manipulate online narratives.
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While critics say shutting down R/FIMI could weaken efforts to fight foreign interference, Rubio insists that protecting Americans’ freedom of speech must come first, even in the age of digital warfare.
The decision to shut down the office is already being viewed as a major flashpoint in the ongoing debate over censorship, free speech, and how far government agencies should go in policing online content.
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