Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the dismantling of the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC) and the revocation of visas for terrorist supporters in an interview on the Ben Shapiro Show on April 17, 2025. Rubio explained the decision to eliminate the GEC, stating it had "metastasized" into a government-run entity targeting political speech in America. He also outlined the State Department's approach to revoking student visas for individuals found to support terrorist organizations.
Rubio detailed the history of the GEC, explaining it was initially created to combat online radicalization by groups like al-Qaida and ISIS. However, he said it evolved to target domestic political voices, with the center labeling American speech as foreign interference. Rubio stated that the GEC was using taxpayer money to fund third-party groups that would label people and then pressure social media companies to deplatform them.
"So in essence, it metastasized and the metamorphosis into a government-run entity that was targeting political speech in America, labeling it disinformation, and silencing it – all paid for by the American taxpayers directly and indirectly. And that ends," Rubio said. He added that the State Department is taking the whole thing down, which will save about $50 million.
Rubio also addressed the State Department's approach to student visas, emphasizing that no one is entitled to a visa and that the burden of proof is on the applicant. He stated that if someone supports a terrorist organization like Hamas, their visa should be denied or revoked. "It is not in the national interest of the United States, it’s not in our foreign policy interest, it’s not in our national security interest, to invite people onto our university campuses who are not just going to go there to study physics or engineering but who are also going to go there to foment movements that support and excuse foreign terrorist organizations," Rubio said.
Rubio noted that the State Department has identified individuals who support foreign terrorist organizations and is working to remove them from the country. He also mentioned that some student visas are being canceled by DHS for reasons such as DUIs, which were previously not being cross-referenced in the system.
Looking ahead, Rubio stated that the State Department will promote free speech in America and around the world as a core American value. They also plan to review past instances where the GEC was used against American political voices to ensure it never happens again.