Welfare programs, defense projects resume: Guam relieved as federal shutdown ends

By Jayvee Vallejera

Guam officials heaved a sigh of relief today after President Trump signed into law a measure that reopens the federal government after 43 days, reviving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other welfare programs that were suspended during the shutdown.

Although the continuing resolution only keeps the federal government open until Jan. 30, 2026, both Guam Del. James Moylan and Gov. Lou Leon-Guerrero cheered the reopening, saying it restores stability and brings long-awaited relief to millions of Americans and the people of Guam who have shouldered weeks of uncertainty.

“This funding package is more than a stopgap—it is a forward-looking investment in Guam’s families, our security, and our future,” said Moylan in a new release.

“The reopening of government means stability for federal workers, restored access to essential services, and renewed confidence for families who rely on federally funded programs,” said Leon-Guerrero in a separate statement.

Federal lawmakers hope the temporary nature of the reopening will give Congress enough time to hammer out a firmer bipartisan deal that will keep the government open until the end of the fiscal year in September 2026.

Moylan said that Guam’s priorities are secured in this new measure. It not only reopens the federal government and restores essential services for families, workers, and veterans but also delivers historic investments for Guam’s infrastructure, housing and healthcare.

The funding package includes allocations for SNAP, and expanded fruit and vegetable choices for women and children under the WIC program. Moylan said this protects the health of more than 43,000 recipients on Guam.

The new measure also allocates $762 million for the military construction in Guam, $50 million for defense access roads, more than $4 million for select community projects like housing for the homeless in Chalan Pago and funding for the Hagåtña Fire Department, $108.5 million for broadband loan and grant programs, including $50 million for the ReConnect program, and $1.025 billion for housing loan programs, among others.

The new law also provides retroactive coverage to reimburse Guam for keeping federal programs running during the shutdown.

Moylan said this ensures that Guam families will continue to receive assistance, veterans will regain access to care, and federal employees can return to work without fear of being let go.

It also directs the Department of Defense to report on transitioning Guam’s military housing to a public-private partnership model and mandates it to report on the impacts of its missile defense system on Guam’s public infrastructure.

“These investments are not abstract numbers—they are concrete commitments to Guam’s future,” said Moylan. “From safer roads to stronger defenses, this ensures our island is prepared, protected, and prioritized.”

Leon Guerrero said the Guam government worked to maintain services and community safety throughout the shutdown, ensuring that vulnerable residents were protected.

“We thank our federal partners who continued serving the public without pay, and we recognize the resilience of every family that endured this period of disruption,” she added.

She vows to work closely with federal counterparts to ensure that the restoration of services is seamless, that the distribution of federal funds is not delayed, and that support for programs benefiting Guam continues.

Leon-Guerrero praised the signing of the funding bill as a positive step, but also chided the federal government, saying the shutdown emphasized the need for predictability and responsibility in governance.

“Shutdowns carry real consequences for real people—from delayed paychecks to interruptions in programs that support children, seniors, and working families. Guam deserves continuity, stability, and a government that stays focused on delivering for the people,” she added.

Moylan said as much on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

He reminded his colleagues of the human impact of the shutdown: “Guam is home to 3,372 federal employees, more than 43,000 SNAP recipients, over 9,000 WIC recipients, and more than 20,000 veterans—all of whom have been impacted.”

He said the funding measure “gets us back on track, ensures funding for those who need it is in place, and turns the lights back on.”

The measure benefits not only Guam but also the broader Pacific region. Moylan said the Veterans Administration is being mandated to expand its outreach and care delivery for Freely Associated States veterans, including telehealth, medication delivery, and travel reimbursement, among other directives.

This federal government shutdown is considered the longest shutdown in American history. Its main sticking point was the health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, which are set to expire this year. That issue remains unresolved.

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