Global Engagement Center Tasked With Combating Russian Propaganda Despite Funding Challenges

What’s the story?

The Global Engagement Center, an office of the State Department, is tasked with leading the U.S. government’s efforts to counter propaganda and disinformation from international terrorist organizations and foreign countries. The Trump administration, however, has neglected to spend any of the $120 million allocated by Congress since 2016 to counter anti-democratic propaganda by Russia and China, reports the New York Times.

The Center’s efforts are not to combat cyberattacks. The Center’s focus is messaging. According to the State Department website, the office works with other government agencies and private partners to create and disseminate content to combat terrorist propaganda in target areas around the globe.

In late 2016 Congress expanded the Center’s mission to fighting anti-democratic propaganda, allocating $60 million. Secretary of State Tillerson delayed requesting the funds from the Department of Defense until days before the end of the fiscal year, so the funds were not released. So far in fiscal year 2018, only $40 million of the $60 million allocated have been requested, and won’t be received by the Center until April.

Tillerson has expressed skepticism that Russian interference can be successfully countered, reports the Times:

"If it’s their intention to interfere, they’re going to find ways to do that. And we can take steps we can take, but this is something that once they decide they are going to do it, it’s very difficult to pre-empt it."

Meanwhile, none of the Center’s staff speak Russian and department-wide hiring freezes have prevented staff expansion. Secretary Tillerson does not delegate spending decisions, and had a backlog of more than 1,400 funding requests waiting for sign-off at the end of last year.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told the Times he believes it is past time for the Center to secure the funds to do the work envisioned by Congress:

"It is well past time that the State Department’s Global Engagement Center gets the resources Congress intended for it to effectively fight Kremlin-sponsored disinformation and other foreign propaganda operations."

What do you think?

Is the Global Engagement Center focus on messaging important in combating Russian election interference? Do you agree with Secretary Tillerson’s skepticism about countering Russia or not? What do you want to see the State Department do about Russian election interference?

Tell us in the comments what you think, then use the Take Action button to tell your reps!

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— Asha Sanaker

(Photo Credit: U.S. Embassy In Moscow / Creative Commons)