U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on June 3 that Cuba possesses "technocrats" within its government who are willing to negotiate changes to the island's governance. During a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Rubio suggested that while individuals in the technocratic sphere might be approachable, higher-ranking officials are more ideologically entrenched. He noted that these reform-minded individuals within the Cuban apparatus of power recognize the unsustainability of the current system but lack the necessary authority or knowledge to implement desired changes. This comes as the U.S. continues to exert pressure through a long-standing economic embargo, recent actions to restrict fuel shipments, and criminal charges against former President Raul Castro, aiming for a transition toward democracy and a more open economy in Cuba.