US Dismantles Key Foreign Interference Countermeasures Amidst Persistent Global Threats

Washington D.C. and Ottawa – A recent shift in U.S. policy regarding foreign interference has emerged, prompting public debate on the ongoing vigilance against such threats. This development contrasts with continued concerns and robust counter-interference efforts in other nations, including Canada. The question, "Are we still worried about foreign interference or no?" posed by Katya Sedgwick on social media, encapsulates this evolving landscape.

In the United States, a new administration has reportedly begun dismantling government mechanisms designed to combat foreign interference. According to a February 2025 report, dozens of officials tasked with flagging foreign interference in U.S. elections have been reassigned or removed, with the administration following recommendations from Project 2025. Further reports from July 2025 indicate the dissolution of the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force and the State Department's Center for Countering Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference.

This policy reversal has raised concerns among national security experts. The Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, is reviewing the Foreign Malign Influence Center, established by Congress in 2022. Critics argue these actions undermine the U.S.'s capacity to address interference campaigns from nations like Russia and China, despite ongoing warnings from the Council on Foreign Relations about growing foreign influence in democracies.

Conversely, Canada continues to bolster its defenses against foreign meddling. A landmark report from the Canadian Foreign Interference Commission in January 2025 concluded that while democratic institutions were robust, the government had been "insufficiently transparent" and "slow to act" against interference by China and India in recent elections. The commission issued 51 recommendations to enhance Canada's ability to detect and prevent such activities.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a November 1, 2025, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, directly raised concerns about foreign interference, noting China's perceived lack of understanding regarding the severity of these issues for Canada. Furthermore, Canada has enacted Bill C-70, an Act Respecting Countering Foreign Interference, which criminalizes interference activities, enhances information sharing, and establishes a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry, underscoring a proactive approach to safeguarding its democratic processes.