U.S. disinformation tracking agency shuts down after funding lapse

The U.S. State Department announced the closure of the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which tracked foreign disinformation, after Congress did not extend its funding. This marks the first time in eight years that the State Department lacks a dedicated office for this purpose. The GEC, established in 2016, had an annual budget of $61 million and about 120 staff members. Its funding was removed from a recent bipartisan federal spending bill amid ongoing criticism from Republican lawmakers and public figures like Elon Musk. The GEC's shutdown occurs as concerns grow over disinformation campaigns from adversaries like Russia and China. The State Department has not clarified the future of GEC staff or projects following the closure.