President Donald Trump said the move is part of a broader effort to cut unnecessary spending and reduce government involvement in political matters. FMIC was established in 2019, following the 2016 presidential election, amid intelligence reports that Russia had attempted to influence the outcome.

The office was designed to track misinformation, foreign schemes, and other activities that could affect future elections. Russia denied any involvement, while Trump and Republican leaders have claimed the office was part of a Democratic effort to discredit him and undermine his presidency.

In a statement released on August 20, 2025, FMIC Director Tulsi Gabbard said the agency’s key responsibilities would be reassigned to other government offices. She noted that FMIC and similar offices created previously were used to restrict free speech and silence critics.

Gabbard also referenced documents released in July 2025, which she said show officials from the Obama administration aimed to pressure Trump by accusing him of colluding with Russia. On August 19, 2025, Gabbard stated there was no evidence that Russia supported any candidate, including Trump or Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election.

FMIC, set up in 2017, had focused on reviewing the 2016 election results following CIA reports suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin preferred a Trump victory.