Marco Rubio Cuts U.S. Funding to CubaNet

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has taken steps to end the U.S. government's financial support for the independent news platform CubaNet, aligning with the Trump administration's policy of halting foreign aid. This decision significantly impacts the operations of independent media outlets that work from exile to amplify the voices of journalists in Cuba.

According to Roberto Hechavarría Pilia, who leads the news agency, this development considerably complicates their operations. "Continuing our work as before will be extremely difficult," he told Diario de Cuba after receiving notification of the funding termination from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Established in 1994, CubaNet has been a cornerstone of independent Cuban journalism, providing a platform for journalists on the island to share realities often hidden by the regime. "Our mission has always been to counter the Castro regime's propaganda. Without this funding, the government in Havana will have more freedom to strengthen its propaganda and repression," Hechavarría remarked.

The Broader Impact on Independent Media

The discontinuation of funds to CubaNet is part of a broader trend. At the end of January, various independent exile media outlets received notifications about the temporary suspension of assistance while the U.S. government evaluated its international program funding. However, last week, for CubaNet, this suspension became permanent.

As stated in the notification, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Peter W. Marocco, head of the State Department's Office of Foreign Assistance and USAID's designated deputy administrator, concluded that funding CubaNet was "not in the national interest." As a result, they decided to terminate it.

Repercussions for Cuban Journalism

Hechavarría emphasized that this decision severely limits CubaNet's ability to fulfill its mission effectively. "The current situation of Cuban independent journalism, civil society, freedom of expression, and the fight for democracy in Cuba is regressing just when the Castro regime is at its most vulnerable," he warned.

He also highlighted the geopolitical significance of the decision: "Cuba remains a totalitarian regime 90 miles from the United States, allied with Russia, China, and Iran. For Havana, the decreased efforts to monitor its actions are undoubtedly good news."

Calls for Action and Community Support

In response, Hechavarría urged the Cuban exile community and supportive lawmakers to act in defense of press freedom in Cuba: "It's now or never," he declared, calling for actions to sustain the work of these media and other independent civil society organizations.

The funding cutbacks occur amid financial challenges faced by Cuban media operating outside government control, reliant on international assistance. Public figures like influencer Alexander Otaola and singer Haydée Milanés have defended independent outlets.

Prominent dissidents such as José Daniel Ferrer, Félix Navarro, Berta Soler, Manuel Cuesta Morúa, and Ángel Moya are urging the Cuban diaspora to engage in crowdfunding campaigns to support free press. This situation highlights the precarious financial stability of these independent outlets.

Based in Miami, CubaNet, along with Madrid-based Diario de Cuba, has publicly appealed to readers for donations to continue their work. The reduction in U.S. foreign aid could bolster authoritarian regimes by reducing support for human rights organizations in crisis-hit countries. This gap might be exploited by powers like China and Russia to expand their influence in vulnerable regions.

The funding suspension also affects projects in Latin America that were promoting democracy and human rights. Independent Latin American media such as Factual/Distintas Latitudes and No Ficción have also been impacted by USAID's temporary funding halt, potentially leading to a substantial crisis in the region's journalistic landscape.