A transparency group's investigation reveals unprecedented spending by federal agencies on research initiatives targeting public discourse.
According to The Daily Wire, the Biden administration has allocated $267 million since 2021 for research grants that specifically mention "misinformation" in their proposals.
OpenTheBooks, a nonprofit transparency organization founded in 2011, conducted an investigation into federal spending patterns. The group's connection to government transparency efforts traces back to 2006 when then-Senator Barack Obama co-sponsored the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act alongside Senator Tom Coburn.
The Department of Health and Human Services emerged as the leading spender with $185 million in grants, followed by the National Science Foundation with $65 million and the State Department with $12 million. These allocations represent a significant investment in studying and addressing information dissemination.
The report from OpenTheBooks includes a methodology note acknowledging potential limitations in their findings. Their analysis suggests the actual spending could be higher since not all grant descriptions explicitly use the term "misinformation."
A substantial portion of the funding, approximately $127 million, was specifically earmarked for studying information spread patterns and developing strategies to promote compliance with COVID-19 public health measures. These initiatives aimed to increase public adherence to health recommendations and mandates.
The House Committee on Energy & Commerce's Subcommittee on Investigations revealed additional spending through the "We Can Do This" campaign. This initiative, launched in August 2020, consumed over $900 million in federal funds.
The OpenTheBooks report offered this assessment of the campaign's effectiveness:
It appears the administration most concerned with 'misinformation' itself trafficked in misinformation: on masks, on risks to children, on social distancing, and on the need to vaccinate even infants.
The campaign served as a primary channel for disseminating the Biden-Harris administration's messaging on various pandemic-related topics. These included guidance on mask usage, social distancing protocols, vaccine effectiveness, and school reopening strategies.
Former President Trump has outlined plans to address these spending patterns if elected in the future. In December 2022, he announced his intention to implement significant policy changes through executive action.
Trump stated:
Within hours of my inauguration, I will sign an executive order banning any federal department or agency from colluding with any organization, business, or person, to censor, limit, categorize, or impede the lawful speech of American citizens.
The proposed changes would include prohibiting federal funds from being used to label domestic speech as misinformation or disinformation. Additionally, Trump suggested implementing measures to identify and remove federal employees involved in domestic censorship activities.
The Biden administration's $267 million investment in misinformation-related research grants since 2021 represents a significant federal initiative to study and address information dissemination in the digital age. This spending pattern, revealed through OpenTheBooks' investigation, spans multiple federal agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Science Foundation, and the State Department, with particular emphasis on COVID-19 related communication strategies and public health compliance measures.
