U.S. Aid Cut Shakes Cuban News Outlets 

United States: U.S. funded media outlets reporting on Cuba are in a scramble for alternative ways to fund reporting as the Trump administration dismantles the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This has placed the future of these media organisations in limbo, as reported by Reuters. 

It comes after funding for independent Cuban media was suspended in response to a State Department directive freezing most foreign aid. Many organizations are struggling to keep operations in the US. The move is justified by President Trump as part of his “America First” policy to realign US foreign aid. 

Cuban News Outlets Appeal for Public Support 

With USAID funding halted, impacted news organizations have turned to their readers for help: 

Miami-based CubaNet, which received a $500,000 USAID grant in 2024, issued an editorial calling for donations, stating that the funding freeze has created an unexpected financial crisis. 

Madrid-based Diario de Cuba made a similar appeal, emphasizing the increased challenges of producing independent journalism without U.S. support. 

Unclear U.S. Policy on Cuban Media 

Historically, the U.S. has funded opposition groups, human rights organizations, and independent media in Cuba, viewing them as vital for promoting free speech. In 2024 alone, $2.3 million was allocated to Cuba-related media initiatives under programs such as “Independent Media and Free Flow of Information.” 

However, the Cuban government has long criticized these programs, arguing that U.S.-backed media outlets serve as tools of American foreign policy. Cuban Foreign Vice Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossio called these organizations “dependent on their master” and dismissed their claims of independence. 

Cuban Government Cracks Down on Press Freedom 

Cuba denies U.S. media the rights to operate in the country, which results in widespread censorship. Cuban journalists are many who have been expelled from the profession or forced into exile because of government restrictions. 

Even some independent news sites, such as CiberCuba, which claims to receive no funding from any government, face censorship and limited access within Cuba, as reported by Reuters. 

Political Silence on Funding Suspension 

A key player in U.S. Cuba policy, Senator Marco Rubio is a longtime critic of the Cuban government and a vocal champion of sanctions and extreme policies. But he has yet to publicly explain why U.S. money for radio and television aimed at reaching Cubans in the United States is no longer being distributed.