This doesn't pass the smell test. If they're telling dealers, they know it'll leak. There's no way they'd essentially publicize "we're doing this to cheat headquarters" if they were doing that, unless they're really fucking dumb, or expect overseas leadership to be completely disconnected to the point of missing a major news cycle.
Or whoever passed on the news was so upset about it to say "I quit" in the most creative and fuck-you way possible.