Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been making headlines for slashing government costs, claiming responsibility for over 100 federal lease terminations across the country. But one claim in particular is raising eyebrows—the supposed termination of the Radio/TV Marti headquarters lease.
Is this another bold cost-cutting move, or is the truth more complicated? Let’s break it down.
Musk’s Push to Cut Government Waste
Musk’s DOGE initiative has been focused on eliminating underused federal office space, and so far, they’ve claimed to have canceled about 2.3 million square feet of government leases. Some of their biggest claims include:
- The Carter Center’s federal lease in Atlanta – DOGE took credit for terminating it after former President Jimmy Carter’s passing, but it was later revealed the lease was already set to expire on its own.
- Multiple federal office spaces across the country, with a focus on reducing what Musk sees as excessive government spending on unused buildings.
On the surface, this sounds like a major effort to cut waste. But as we’ve seen with the Carter Center case, some of these terminations may not be as dramatic as they seem.
What’s Happening with Radio/TV Marti?
Radio/TV Marti is a U.S. government-funded media network that broadcasts independent news into Cuba, operating under the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). For decades, it has been a key part of the U.S. government’s efforts to provide uncensored news to the Cuban people.
But here’s the problem: there is no official confirmation that its headquarters lease has actually been canceled.
While DOGE has taken credit for several lease terminations, there’s no clear evidence that Radio/TV Marti’s office is one of them. Neither the OCB nor the USAGM has released a statement confirming any changes to the network’s lease or operations.
Is This Just Another Misleading Claim?
If this situation sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before. The Carter Center lease “termination” turned out to be a routine expiration that had nothing to do with Musk’s team. It’s possible that something similar is happening here.
There are a few possibilities:
- The lease was already set to expire, and DOGE is simply taking credit for a routine decision.
- The government is reevaluating Radio/TV Marti’s funding, and changes were in motion before DOGE got involved.
- Musk’s team is pushing a broader agenda to reduce government spending, and this claim fits into their narrative, whether it’s accurate or not.
What Happens Next?
Right now, there’s no concrete proof that the lease has actually been canceled. If it turns out to be true, it could have a major impact on how the U.S. delivers independent news to Cuba. If it’s just another case of DOGE exaggerating its influence, then it raises even more questions about how these lease terminations are being reported.
For now, all we can do is wait for an official statement from the U.S. Agency for Global Media or the Office of Cuba Broadcasting to clear things up. Until then, take DOGE’s claim with a healthy dose of skepticism.