Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that under the previous administration, a little-known office within the State Department compiled a dossier labeling a former Trump official as a source of disinformation.
Rubio disclosed the information during a recent Cabinet meeting, stating that the file consisted of collected social media posts and public commentary. While he did not identify the individual named in the dossier, Rubio confirmed that the full contents would be turned over to the person targeted, leaving it up to them to decide whether to go public.
The office responsible, the Global Engagement Center, was originally established to combat foreign propaganda, but its operations have come under increasing scrutiny. Critics argue that the office expanded its scope into monitoring domestic voices, raising questions about the boundaries between national security efforts and free speech.
The dossier’s existence has ignited concerns over government overreach and the surveillance of political dissent. Rubio emphasized that efforts to fight disinformation must not come at the expense of constitutional rights and transparency.
The Global Engagement Center was officially shut down in April 2025 as part of a broader restructuring effort within the State Department led by the Trump administration. The incident has triggered renewed debate over how government agencies should approach misinformation without infringing on civil liberties.