State Department Official Leaks Files to Support Censorship Claims

Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers leaked government files from the now-defunct Global Engagement Center (GEC) to right-wing analyst Jennica Pounds. The leak was intended to support allegations that the GEC conducted domestic censorship, leading Rogers to claim that officials within the center betrayed their stated mission.

Former GEC officials Daniel Kimmage and Carrie Goux have denied these claims, asserting that the documents show no evidence the center targeted Americans. They maintain that the leak misrepresents the GEC's foreign-facing mandate. The GEC was disbanded in 2025 following Republican efforts to frame the office as a tool for suppressing conservative speech.

While the GEC is closed, the State Department continues to pursue similar goals through new initiatives. The department is planning an $11 million campaign to counter Chinese propaganda in Southeast Asia by paying up to 30 social media influencers. Additionally, the office of policy, planning and resources for public diplomacy is seeking commercial software to detect deepfakes and map adversarial propaganda networks.

Jennica Pounds, who received the leaked files, recently disclosed she is a special government employee for the Department of Defense. She had previously claimed the leak was an attempt to entrap her.