By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
While Guam is at risk of losing millions in federal funding under the proposed new supplemental appropriations, the territory’s delegate to the U.S. Congress seems asleep at the wheel, Sen. Chris Barnett said.
“Who is fighting for Guam’s funding in Congress?” Barnett asked Guam Del. James Moylan in a letter, which heavily criticized the congressman for a dearth of information from his office.
“My primary concern is what Guam stands to lose and that list continues to grow. How does your office justify these losses?” the Democratic senator added.
The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote this week on a stopgap measure to stave off a potential federal shutdown on March 14 and fund the government through Sept. 30.
Opposed by House Democrats, the Republican bill would chop off $13 billion in non-defense spending and bump the defense budget up by $6 billion.
Despite the forthcoming House action, Barnett said, Moylan has not clued Guam in on how the island will be affected by the Republicans’ push to slash federal spending and what actions his office has taken to rescue the imperiled appropriations for the territory.
“Did you remain silent during these critical discussions, simply following the decisions of the majority?” Barnett asked the Republican delegate.
“The lack of updates from your office regarding the appropriations bill is deeply troubling. Our community deserves transparency and direct answers from you—your silence is deafening.”
While acknowledging the Trump administration’s resolve to shrink the federal bureaucracy, the senator reminded Moylan that his duty as Guam’s delegate to Congress “is to challenge these cuts when they negatively impact our community.”
Funds at stake include $2 million for the Guam Police Department’s vehicles, $6 million for the Guam Customs & Quarantine Agency’s equipment, as well as allotments for Mobile Command Centers for both agencies and an ambulance for the Guam Fire Department, among others.
Two of the Department of Justice’s key programs—the State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and the Community Oriented Policing Services—are likely to be scrapped as well.
“Cutting funding to these programs is like placing handcuffs on our officers, denying them the necessary resources needed to effectively ensure the safety of our communities,” Barnett said. “These cuts are not merely abstract budget decisions; they carry real and immediate consequences for the safety and well-being of our people.”
In response, Moylan issued a statement listing his amendments to H.R. 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, which he said were “designed to guarantee crucial funding for public infrastructure and public safety initiatives, ensuring the well-being and security of the community.”
The amendments include funding for certain projects authorized in the Water Resources and Development Act of 2024, which he said would secure funds for Guam’s Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant.
Another amendment focuses on restoring Byrne Justice grants, which would ensure allocations for Guam CQA's X-ray scanners and GPD's police vehicles.
"Our community's infrastructure and public safety are fundamental pillars of
our well-being. I will continue to advocate for essential funding to support these critical areas, ensuring the safety and prosperity of our residents," Moylan said.
Barnett stressed that without action from the delegate’s office, Guam would forfeit vital resources.
He noted that Moylan trumpeted his “success in securing federal funding for Guam” during his first term in office and during his reelection campaign.
“However, these funds are now at risk of being cut,” Barnett said. “We need leadership, advocacy and action—now.”
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