being quote from:
Funds to counter Russia, extremists left unused at State Dept.
Funds to counter Russia, extremists gather dust at State Department
State Department funding in question 02:47
Washington (CNN)Lawmakers
reacted angrily to reports that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is not
spending money at his disposal to counter Russian disinformation and
propaganda put out by violent extremists.
The news, first reported by Politico,
comes as President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that would
sanction Russia for its interference in the US election, curb Trump's
ability to independently ease penalties against Moscow, and bolster the
Global Engagement Center (GEC) created to push back against Russian
agitprop and other lies.
All
the more reason, then, for bipartisan ire that Tillerson is choosing
not to spend the almost $80 million already set aside for the GEC this
year, a choice one lawmaker called "indefensible."
State
Department officials said that the delay is part of a broader policy
review intended to give Tillerson time to figure out what policies are
best pursued and where money is best spent. The GEC is "just one part of
the overall review," Brett McGurk, the Special Presidential Envoy for
the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, told CNN's Michelle Kosinski.
High scrutiny
"The
secretary, from day one, has been very clear with all of us that
everything we're doing has to be subject to the highest level of
scrutiny," McGurk said. "Before you put that money in the pot, you want
to make sure that it's delivering the results you want it to deliver."
A
State Department official added on background that the GEC "continues
to execute its mission" and that "there is a process underway to ensure
any future funding or programs account for the most appropriate tactics
and strategy -- especially in countering propaganda from countries such
as Russia that have minimal protections for free speech or the media."
That
explanation isn't sitting well with lawmakers, particularly since
Tillerson had singled out countering violent extremism as a major
priority as ISIS loses on the battlefield and moves to inspire attacks
on Europe and beyond.
"Countering
foreign propaganda should be a top priority and it is very concerning
that progress on combating this problem is being delayed because the
State Department isn't tapping into these resources," said Ohio
Republican Sen. Rob Portman.
He and
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut wrote the legislation that
established the GEC. Murphy said that a failure to follow through and
use the center "is indefensible."
"Every
day, ISIS is spreading terrorist propaganda and Russia is implementing a
sophisticated disinformation campaign to undermine the United States
and our allies," Murphy said. "There should be no doubt these are
critical challenges to our national security."
The
burgeoning controversy surrounding Tillerson's inaction is generating
concern that, at a time of heightened global tension and amid
administration plans to cut the State Department's budget by up to 30
percent, the agency isn't functioning properly.
And
it once again raises questions about the Trump administration's
commitment to pushing back against Russia. The President only
reluctantly signed the sanctions bill, calling it "deeply flawed," as a
DOJ investigation continues into possible ties between Trump campaign
associates and Russia.
Tillerson
himself built some of the most significant parts of his career as
ExxonMobil CEO through energy deals with Russia, earning the highest
civilian honor for a non-citizen from President Vladimir Putin. In
recent weeks, the top US diplomat has been conducting talks with Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that are meant to reduce "irritants" in
the relationship and deepen areas of potential cooperation.
"Really not serious"
Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham of South Carolina questioned the message Tillerson's decision sends.
"This
idea I may not use money to help democratic states under siege by
Russia adds up to a signal that we're really not serious in the Trump
administration about dealing with Russian interference in our home," he
said. "Here in our backyard and abroad and that just invites more
aggression."
Graham said he would be writing Tillerson a letter to ask for an explanation.
Sen.
Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate foreign relations
committee, said he was puzzled and concerned. "The authorities for these
funds were explicitly spelled out in last year's National Defense
Authorization Act," he said, "reflecting the broad and bipartisan will
of Congress. The intent of Congress could not have been more clear, and
the State Department must ensure that there is a robust effort to carry
out this work."
"Any delay is
unacceptable and ignores the attacks Russia has carried out on our
country and our allies," Cardin added. "I urge Secretary Tillerson to
immediately develop and carry out a strategy for the use of these
anti-propaganda funds to protect our nation and the American people."
Senior
Democratic Congressional sources said they have no evidence this is
about placating Russia, but given this administration's refusal to get
tough on Moscow, they can't rule it out.
"You
would think this would be a higher priority and it has to make you
wonder," a Congressional source said. "We don't have direct information
on that, but its within the realm of possibility. We can't rule it out. "
Funding
for the counter-Russia efforts was appropriated in May, making it a
relatively new program. But many GEC staffers have left since the new
administration took over amid Tillerson's hiring freeze and pending
cuts, there has been no hiring. Democratic sources said the lack of
State Department staff to design and execute programs is seen as part of
the problem.
Democratic
Congressional sources also say lawmakers were clear about what they want
the State Department to use the money for and they want them to use it
as soon as possible.
"It is
possible that they are legitimately still figuring out how they will use
the funds," said a Democratic source on Capitol Hill. "We don't want
them to throw the money out the door, but it's been seven months and we
haven't heard anything from them," the source said. "Time is going by,
the funds are there. The money exists. The needs exists. Why isn't
anything happening?"
Spotty track record
Previous State Department efforts to counter violent extremism with information blitzes weren't seen as a success.
Congressional
sources said similar programs under the Obama administration weren't
seen as well designed or effective. They said that those problems are
now being compounded by a lack of coherent policy or strategy coming out
of Tillerson's State Department, a criticism echoed by former State
Department employees.
"There is no
sense of their thinking, no sense of a plan how to use the funds,"
another Congressional source said. "And we have no confidence it would
be well spent. This administration says
countering extremist propaganda is a priority, but slogans and rhetoric
is one thing. It's another to come out with a coherent strategy."
A
senior State Department official said the GEC itself was the problem.
This official said the goals the Center outlined for the funding weren't
considered in line with administration objectives or adequate for
solving the problem. The office has repeatedly been sent back to the
drawing board, this official said.
"We
have no problem using the money and we have no problem with programs
that counter Russia propaganda," the official said. "In fact other
programs in the building are already doing that. What we aren't going to
do is throw good money after bad. We aren't going to spend money
ineffectively."
According to a
source who spoke with Politico, Tillerson adviser R.C. Hammond was among
those at the State Department who pushed back against using the money,
saying that to do so would needle Russia.
"We
do not consider it accurate," Hammond told CNN Wednesday, denying that
he made that statement, and insisting the US-Russia relationship was not
part of the equation.
When the
GEC was set up at the State Department it was handed a budget of $16
million to start, with another $19.8 in supplemental funding on the
table. Additionally, the Defense Department is able to transfer $60
million in fiscal year 2017 and again in 2018.
Hammond
said Tillerson's staff are considering a proposal to use the additional
funds and are not concerned by a September 30 deadline by which they
have to request the $60 million or lose it.
And he added that South Carolina's Graham "would be wasting his ink" on a letter.
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