Guam bill seeks to strengthen accountability of homeland security funds

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Sen. Shawn Gumataotao introduced Bill 184-38, which would require the Guam Office of Homeland Security to establish classified positions for its grants manager and Marianas Regional Fusion Center director positions.

In a 2024 audit, the Office of Public Accountability found that the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense’s noncompliance issues were caused by a revolving door of leadership and a lack of a qualified fiscal and grants management team.

Additionally, the unaddressed repeat findings and causes have resulted in the documented freezing of federal reimbursements. According to the OPA, the freeze indicates how risky it is for the federal government to continue to invest in GHS/OCD.

If enacted into law, the bill would mandate the Guam Office of Homeland Security to provide a copy of project performance, compliance, and financial reports to the legislature and the OPA whenever such reports are submitted to a federal awarding agency.

“Guam’s record as a recipient of federal grants for homeland security services jeopardizes future funding opportunities which in turn weakens our collective ability to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from known and emerging threats against the people of Guam, particularly at a time of rising military tensions in our part of the world,” said Gumataotao said.

“Without merit-based positions, the responsibility of managing critical financial resources and submitting reports as required by federal awarding agencies are assigned to unclassified and potentially unqualified political appointees.”

Also, Bill 184-38 would require the director or equivalent position of the MRFC be filled through classified employment.

“The MRFC director position must be treated with the same seriousness, scrutiny, and support that we as a community establish for other members of our law enforcement community,” Gumataotao said.

“It is through intelligence sharing with our local, federal and regional partners that the MRFC serves an undeniably important leadership role in protecting our families against domestic and foreign threats.

A public hearing on Bill 184-38 is tentatively planned for Oct. 14.

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