STORY: U.S. officials on Tuesday said President Joe Biden plans to relax sanctions on Cuba just days before Donald Trump takes office.

The measures were expected to give Cuba some economic relief in the short term as it battles a crippling economic crisis.

But some Cubans in Havana viewed Biden's plans as too little too late.

JENNIFER PADRON: "he promised many things at the beginning, that he would help Cuba in many ways that he really never fulfilled, but this will be his final goodwill."

JAIRON PEREZ: "Well, we have to see what Trump does next. Knowing him, it's possible that they quit this week and Trump comes and everything goes backward. I see it as a somewhat useless action because: how many advantages will we have, for how long? A couple of weeks, a few days?"

The measures Biden plans include a reversal of several hardline restrictions put in place by Trump during his first term.

A senior administration official said the measures include plans to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism and to undo a Trump order that restricted financial transactions with some Cubans.

Officials said Biden expects the move would lead to the release of political prisoners in Havana.

They did not specify the number of prisoners or give a time frame.

In a brief letter to Congress, Biden said his steps were "necessary to the national interests of the United States and will expedite a transition to democracy in Cuba."

The Cuban government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.