Of the total proposed in the Allocations Law, 40 million are earmarked for Radio TV Martí and the remainder for the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
14ymedio, Madrid, April 29, 2026 / The US will allocate at least $75 million of public funds to Cuba next year. The National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for 2027 was approved Tuesday by committee by a vote of 35 to 27, though it still needs to pass through the House of Representatives and the Senate before President Donald Trump signs it into law.
It does not appear likely that the amounts allocated to “support democracy” on the island will change, as the total is exactly the same as last year. However, it does represent a larger percentage decrease, since the funds have fallen from a total of $50 billion in 2026 to $47.32 billion this fiscal year, which ends in September of next year—a 6% reduction overall.
The two main allocations related to Cuba are divided into two parts. On one side, $35 million will be earmarked for programs that promote democracy and strengthen civil society on the island through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), including support for political prisoners. The remainder goes to the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) for two purposes. The first, $35 million, is for broadcasting information via radio, internet, and television, of which $5.2 million can be retained until the next fiscal year.
The second item is an additional five million for the production of special programs about the Island, which come from the international communication activities budget, whose total value is 540 million.
This money can also be used for “capital improvements for broadcasting, which may include the purchase, rental, construction, repair, maintenance and improvement of facilities for the transmission and reception of radio, television and digital media; the purchase, rental and installation of equipment necessary for the transmission and reception of radio, television and digital media, including to Cuba, as authorized; and physical security worldwide.”
The second concept is an additional five million for the production of special programs about the Island, which comes from the international communication activities budget, whose total value is 540 million.
In addition to these subsidies, the law specifies limits on the allocation of public funds to Cuba, which remain substantially unchanged. The use of federal funds to revoke Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism is expressly prohibited. It also prevents the removal or reduction of the State Department’s “blacklist” of Cuban entities, closing any avenue that permits, facilitates, or encourages transactions with companies and individuals on the list, particularly those linked to the Armed Forces or intelligence services.
Private individuals are also affected by the restrictions, as sanctions are imposed on any individuals or legal entities that maintain any economic or commercial relationship with the Cuban Army or Ministry of the Interior. This includes those who participate in activities that benefit international business operations or generate income for both ministries, companies controlled by them (any of the GAESA military conglomerate), and those who collaborate to help them circumvent the imposed sanctions.
The exemptions also appear in the document, which outlines the sale of agricultural products and medical supplies authorized by law and the payments corresponding to the lease and maintenance of the naval base in Guantanamo Bay, as well as the expenses of the Embassy in Havana, the processing of authorized remittances and aid to independent civil society.
The bill notes that all these measures are contingent upon a possible regime change that would allow for free elections in Cuba.
Among other sections dedicated to the island, the one concerning international medical missions stands out. The bill requires that, within 90 days of its enactment, the Secretary of State submit a report on the countries and international organizations that pay the Cuban government directly for the work of medical professionals, which the text considers “forced labor and human trafficking.” The document must be public, although it may contain classified information, and inclusion in it will have direct consequences for those involved, including a ban on travel to the United States.
In addition, countries and organizations that figure in the report for two consecutive years will lose access to funds for economic assistance and security included in the budget, a measure that can only be avoided by ceasing payments to the regime for medical services.
Finally, the document includes two more specifications related to the Island. One is the prohibition of using funds for “activities that contravene executive orders related to border security,” and the other is the inclusion of economic incentives for the capture of individuals linked to the 1996 downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
Mario Díaz-Balart, chairman of the subcommittee responsible for the bill, said Tuesday that the document was drafted with a policy of “responsible spending, with a clear focus on national security.” He added that the work was done prioritizing U.S. interests and subtly criticized anyone who questions the proposed budget. “If you are a friend or ally of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an adversary or are getting too close to our adversaries, then you won’t like this bill.”
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