Closure of Radio and TV Martí Generates Strong Reactions from Politicians, Opponents, and Organizations

After the layoffs of all contractors at Radio y TV Martí began this Sunday, following the order from the Donald Trump administration to implement a massive cut in the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), numerous politicians, opposition members, and organizations have responded to the shutdown of these media outlets, which are considered a crucial source of information for Cubans both on the island and abroad.

The shutdown of these platforms has sparked an intense debate about their impact and effectiveness. While some defend their role in the fight against the censorship of the Cuban regime, others examine the context in which this decision occurs and its consequences for the exile community and the opposition in Cuba.

Among those who have reacted to the closure of Radio y TV Martí is the Cuban American National Foundation (FNCA), which, through X, urged President Donald Trump to restore the necessary funding for these platforms to continue operating.

"In the name of FNCA and all those who fight for the freedom of Cuba, we urge President Trump to restore the necessary funds for Radio Martí to continue its vital work. The Cuban people need, now more than ever, the support and solidarity of the United States," the organization stated in its message.

The wave of reactions included Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, who expressed her opposition to the closure of Radio y TV Martí, emphasizing its crucial role in the fight against the Cuban regime's propaganda.

"Radio Martí has been crucial in countering the propaganda of the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime", she wrote on X, reaffirming the importance of these broadcasts in the dissemination of free information for the Cuban people.

He also stated that he will continue working to prevent censorship from imposing itself on the press directed at Cuba: "As federal programs and agencies are restructured, I will keep working with President Trump to ensure that the Cuban people have access to the uncensored news they need and deserve."

The opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer directed a message to President Trump, urging him to ensure the continuation of Radio and Televisión Martí, which he considers essential in the fight for freedom and democracy in Cuba.

Radio and Television Martí are a necessary and inseparable symbol of the cause for freedom and democracy in Cuba. "They transcend our geographical borders," wrote Ferrer on X, highlighting their role in non-violent opposition, independent journalism, and support for political prisoners.

While he acknowledged that a restructuring might be necessary to improve its effectiveness, he warned that its disappearance would solely benefit the Cuban regime and other undemocratic media outlets such as Rusia Today, CGTN (China), HispanTV (Iran), and Telesur (Venezuela).

"We strongly urge the President of the United States that Radio y Televisión Martí continue giving a voice to our oppressed people who are silenced by a brutal tyranny that is hostile to the U.S. and all of the West," he stated.

The activist Omara Isabel Ruiz Urquiola described the closure of Radio y TV Martí as a significant blow to the cause of a free Cuba, emphasizing the role these media outlets have played in breaking the information monopoly of the regime.

Ruiz recalled on Facebook that through Radio Martí, millions of Cubans were able to learn about the opposition within the island, including historical events such as the Black Spring, the Varela Project, the massacre of the Tugboat 13 de Marzo, and the repression against Brothers to the Rescue.

Furthermore, he highlighted the impact of the medium in rural areas, where listening to Radio Martí has been a source of hope and information for political prisoners and farmers, despite the regime's attempts to monitor and control access to its broadcasts.

While he acknowledged that there have been mistakes and a lack of professionalism, he insisted that this situation is improvable and that its closure benefits only the Castro intelligence, which is now celebrating the decision: "It is impossible to recount what has happened in Cuba from 1985 to today without referring to Radio Martí."

For its part, the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC) expressed its deep concern over the suspension of funds to Radio y Televisión Martí, warning that this measure represents a significant setback in the fight for freedom in Cuba and a direct benefit to the Cuban regime.

The organization recalled on Facebook that these outlets, established with the support of former President Ronald Reagan in 1985, have been essential in the peaceful resistance, independent journalism, and the denunciation of human rights violations on the island.

Additionally, he warned about the global impact this decision would have, as it would strengthen the propaganda of authoritarian regimes such as Russia Today (RT), CGTN from China, HispanTV from Iran, and Telesur from Venezuela, which would affect not only Cuba but also the democratic interests of the United States and the West.

The CTDC urged the U.S. Department of State to reconsider the suspension of funding and to ensure the continuity of Radio y TV Martí, which, according to the organization, have been crucial in breaking the information monopoly of the regime and keeping alive the hope for a democratic future for Cuba and the region.

The Cuban activist Félix Llerena also reacted to the closure of Radio Martí, expressing his gratitude for the impact it had on his life and on the lives of many Cubans who found a window to freedom in its broadcasts.

"Dedicated to all of us who were free thanks to Radio Martí. To those who listened to the station in Cuba, to those who risk our freedom distributing radios like in my case, like Lino's and many others. I truly thank you, Radio Martí!!" wrote Llerena on X.

The administration of Donald Trump implemented a massive cut at the USAGM (United States Agency for Global Media), in response to the executive order signed on March 14, 2025, titled "Continuing the Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy".

This measure aims to drastically reduce the structure of governmental agencies by eliminating functions deemed unnecessary.

As part of this decision, USAGM began to dismantle non-essential areas and operations, reducing its staff to the minimum allowed by law.

As a result, a large number of employees, including those from its subsidiaries, were placed on administrative leave with pay starting last Saturday, with no clear date for their return.

From this Saturday, the broadcasts of Radio and TV Martí, along with other media operated by the agency, have been suspended following the announcement of the executive order.

On Sunday, the layoffs at Radio y TV Martí began, as reported on social media by journalist Roberto Céspedes, a former collaborator of USAGM.

In his post, he detailed that all contractors of the Office of Transmissions to Cuba received an email notifying them of the immediate termination of their duties.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Closure of Radio and TV Martí