Rubio Officially Ends Biden-Era Censorship Program

Person walking on tarmac wearing a black mask.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has abolished a Biden-era censorship program that continued to operate despite Congress cutting its funding in 2024, striking a blow for First Amendment rights nationwide.

Key Takeaways

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has permanently shut down the Global Engagement Center (GEC) and its rebranded successor program that was accused of censoring American citizens
The Biden administration had continued the censorship operations under a different name after Congress refused to reauthorize the GEC’s funding in 2024
GEC funded censorship technologies like NewsGuard and the Global Disinformation Index that blacklisted conservative media outlets
The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) had filed a lawsuit alleging the program violated First Amendment rights
Rubio’s action fulfills the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting free speech and constitutional rights

Uncovering the Censorship Complex

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this week the complete dismantling of the Global Engagement Center (GEC) and its successor program, the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office. Both entities were implicated in what critics called a “censorship industrial complex” targeting American citizens. The GEC had officially lost its congressional authorization in 2024, but the Biden administration reportedly continued similar operations under a different name within the State Department structure.

The closure comes after significant pressure from legal challenges and congressional scrutiny. The New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA), a nonprofit civil rights group, had filed a lawsuit alleging that the GEC funded tools and technologies designed to suppress constitutionally protected speech. Their legal action exposed how these State Department-backed programs exceeded their mandate to combat foreign influence and instead targeted domestic news organizations with different political viewpoints.

How the Censorship Machine Operated

According to documents cited in the NCLA lawsuit, the GEC financed organizations like NewsGuard and the Global Disinformation Index, which effectively blacklisted conservative-leaning news outlets. These technologies specifically targeted media platforms that opposed government narratives, impacting their circulation and advertising revenue. Publications including The Daily Wire and The Federalist were among those affected by these blacklisting efforts, demonstrating the program’s apparent political bias.

“Secretary Rubio’s acknowledgement that our government abridged the free speech rights of American citizens and the American press represents a first step toward dismantling the Censorship Industrial Complex. Unfortunately, our clients continue to suffer from the blacklisting and demonetization advanced by the State Department—as do other members of the American press,” said Margot Cleveland, Of Counsel, NCLA.

In his announcement, Secretary Rubio explicitly acknowledged the harm caused by these programs and emphasized that such activities violated constitutional protections. The GEC was also linked to the broader Election Integrity Partnership, a collaborative effort that involved nonprofits, social media platforms, and government agencies in what critics described as coordinated censorship activities that suppressed conservative viewpoints under the guise of combating “disinformation.”

SecState Rubio Shuts Down Censorship Program That Biden Administration Claimed Was Already Deadhttps://t.co/mWdOAPwMO7

— RedState (@RedState) April 17, 2025

Protecting First Amendment Rights

The NCLA has stated its intention to work with the Trump administration to develop safeguards preventing similar First Amendment violations in the future. The organization continues to seek justice for its clients who have suffered ongoing harm from the blacklisting initiatives funded by the State Department. Legal experts have praised Rubio’s decisive action as an important step toward restoring constitutional freedoms that were allegedly compromised during the previous administration.

“When NCLA first learned that the State Department was wrapped up in the Biden Administration’s censorship regime, we were incredulous. How could the State Department be involved in any domestic activity, let alone censoring Americans in violation of the First Amendment? But Secretary Rubio’s admission confirms what our suit revealed. Now we’ll see if the State Department will rectify the situation going forward for our clients,” said Mark Chenoweth, President, NCLA.

Political commentators including Jonathan Turley have publicly supported Rubio’s decision to shutter the program. The action aligns with President Trump’s broader efforts to reform government agencies accused of overreach and political targeting. Secretary Rubio emphasized that protecting Americans’ right to free speech remains a cornerstone of the administration’s commitment to upholding constitutional principles and restoring public trust in government institutions.