María Elvira Salazar Responds to the Shutdown of Radio and TV Martí

On Monday, Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar took to social media to express her reaction to the closure of Radio and TV Martí, emphasizing the critical role these media channels have played in opposing the Cuban government's propaganda. "Radio Martí has been instrumental in countering the propaganda of the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime," Salazar posted on her X account, underscoring the significance of these news platforms for the Cuban people.

Furthermore, Salazar pledged to continue collaborating with former President Donald Trump to ensure that Cubans maintain access to uncensored news amidst federal government restructuring. "As federal programs and agencies undergo restructuring, I will continue working with President Trump to guarantee the Cuban people have access to the uncensored news they need and deserve," she stated.

Salazar's comments align with those of opposition leader José Daniel Ferrer, who also voiced his concerns on X, acknowledging the vital importance of Radio and TV Martí for peaceful opposition, independent journalism, and political prisoners. In his message, Ferrer urged, "We earnestly ask the President of the United States to ensure that Radio and Television Martí continue to give a voice to our oppressed and silenced people by a brutal tyranny hostile to the US and all of the West."

The Trump administration has initiated a significant reduction in the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), following an executive order signed on March 14, 2025, titled "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy." This measure aims to drastically downsize the structure of governmental agencies, eliminating what are deemed unnecessary functions.

As part of this strategy, USAGM has begun to dismantle non-essential areas and operations, limiting its workforce to the minimum legally permitted. Consequently, a substantial number of employees, including those from its affiliates, were placed on administrative leave with pay starting last Saturday, with no clear date of return.

As of Saturday, broadcasts from Radio and TV Martí, along with other agency-operated media, have been suspended following the announcement of the executive order. On Sunday, layoffs began at Radio and TV Martí, as reported on social media by journalist Roberto Céspedes, a former USAGM collaborator. He detailed in his post that all contractors from the Office of Cuba Broadcasting received an email notifying them of the immediate cessation of their duties.