Secretary of State Marco Rubio has exposed a shocking government operation that monitored Americans’ social media posts, with taxpayer dollars funding efforts to silence conservative voices.

At a Glance

• Rubio revealed the State Department operated an office that monitored and censored American citizens’ social media activity
• The Global Engagement Center (GEC) allegedly evolved from fighting terrorist propaganda to targeting conservative Americans
• Despite Congress defunding the GEC, it was rebranded as the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office
• The operation reportedly cost taxpayers over $50 million annually and maintained dossiers on Americans, including a Trump administration official
• Elon Musk condemned the GEC as a major offender in government censorship operations

State Department’s Secret Surveillance Program Exposed

During a recent White House Cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a stunning announcement that should concern every American who values free speech. “We had an office in the Department of State whose job it was to censor Americans,” Rubio declared, revealing the existence of a government operation that monitored citizens’ social media activities. The Global Engagement Center (GEC), originally established to counter terrorist propaganda, allegedly morphed into something far more insidious—a partisan tool that targeted conservative voices while being funded by the American taxpayer.

According to Rubio, this surveillance program was extensive and well-funded. “American taxpayers, through the State Department, were paying groups to attack Americans and to try to silence the voice of Americans,” Rubio maintained. These operations allegedly resulted in some citizens being de-platformed from social media sites based on their political viewpoints. The revelation raises serious constitutional questions about government overreach and First Amendment violations, especially as it appears the program specifically targeted one side of the political spectrum.

I saw it coming. With a quiet smirk perhaps, but without surprise. That this opposition party would once again be targeted so directly and so aggressively was almost inevitable. What followed was equally revealing. Outrage from abroad, concern from democratic allies, and an eerie… pic.twitter.com/Q4YfbHoYdM

— George A. Rauscher (@GeorgeARauscher) May 3, 2025

Rebranded But Not Discontinued

Despite Congressional efforts to defund the problematic operation, the State Department apparently found a way to keep the program alive. “GEC was supposed to be dead already. But, as many have learned the hard way, in Washington, D.C., few things ever truly die. When Republicans in Congress sunset GEC’s funding at the end of last year, the Biden State Department simply slapped on a new name. The GEC became the Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference office, with the same roster of employees. With this new name, they hoped to survive the transition to the new administration,” Rubio explained.

“The Department of State of the United States had set up an office to monitor the social media posts and commentary of American citizens.”, said Marco Rubio.

The program’s continuation under a different name raises questions about governmental transparency and accountability. With an annual cost exceeding $50 million according to reports, American taxpayers were unknowingly funding operations that monitored their own speech. Elon Musk, who has been vocal about free speech issues since acquiring Twitter, specifically called out the GEC as a major offender in government censorship and media manipulation efforts, lending additional credibility to Rubio’s claims.

Dossiers on American Citizens

Perhaps most disturbing among Rubio’s revelations was the claim that the State Department maintained actual dossiers on American citizens accused of spreading “disinformation.” These dossiers reportedly included files on at least one Trump administration official, though the identity of this individual has not been disclosed. Vice President JD Vance responded to the revelation with a touch of humor, speculating whether the monitored official was himself or Elon Musk, but the underlying issue remains deeply concerning.

Madeline Summerville, an attorney and political analyst cited in reporting on the matter, noted that these documents would be turned over to the individuals they concern. However, critical details about the monitoring program remain unclear, including its duration, the platforms monitored, and the specific nature of speech being tracked. Summerville emphasized the need for more information before definitively labeling it government overreach, though the pattern described by Rubio certainly suggests serious constitutional concerns.

A Pattern of Government Overreach

The GEC controversy bears striking similarities to other recent incidents of alleged government censorship, including efforts to suppress information about COVID-19 treatments and origins, as well as the Hunter Biden laptop story ahead of the 2020 election. In all these cases, information initially labeled as “misinformation” or “Russian disinformation” later proved to be largely accurate, raising questions about the government’s role in controlling public discourse under the guise of combating foreign influence operations.

“When we know that the best way to combat disinformation is freedom of speech and transparency.”, concludes Marco Rubio.

Rubio’s statement that “freedom of speech and transparency” are the best ways to combat disinformation resonates with many Americans concerned about government overreach. As these revelations continue to unfold, they highlight a troubling pattern of national security officials engaging in what appears to be partisan politics rather than focusing on their constitutional duties. The White House has not provided additional details about the individuals mentioned in these dossiers, leaving many questions unanswered about the full scope of this surveillance program.