A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from shutting down a State Department office tasked with monitoring foreign “disinformation” online.
The ruling halts layoffs at the office—known as the Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Office (FIMI), formerly the Global Engagement Center—and requires the department to seek court approval before making further changes.
FIMI, launched in 2016 under President Obama, has drawn criticism for allegedly pressuring tech companies to suppress conservative media and opinions. President Trump’s April executive order instructed agencies to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary functions, including FIMI. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed by announcing the office’s closure.
The June 13 injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, sides with the office’s employees, who claim their firings violated federal workforce protections.
