Moylan seeks Guam’s involvement in defense infrastructure planning

Admin
Jul 25
2 min read

By Mar-Vic Cagurangan

Guam Del. James Moylan is seeking to get the territory’s hand in planning for the Department of Defense’s infrastructure developments on island, noting the military and civilian communities’ mutual need for new public facilities.

“The DoD relies significantly on public infrastructure in Guam, and it is incumbent upon the department to participate in its stewardship,” Moylan said in a July 25 letter to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero, providing an update on the status of the National Defense Authorization Act 2026.

The House Armed Services Committee has approved the defense policy bill, which includes more than $1.85 billion in proposed military investments for Guam.

The DOD is building new facilities, including new housing units on base, to accommodate the 5,000 Marines who will be relocated from Okinawa. The Missile Defense Agency is also developing a missile defense system, which will require 805 Army personnel by 2027, increasing to 1,044 by 2031.

“To simplify long-term coordination between the government of Guam and the DoD, I introduced an amendment requiring the commander of Joint Region Marianas to submit an annual report detailing projects of shared military and civilian value,” Moylan wrote.

The report would be developed in consultation with the governor’s office and “will reference existing statutory authorities related to DoD-funded infrastructure initiatives,” Moylan added.

“These provisions are particularly relevant to the office of the governor and are aimed at strengthening local authority, increasing federal transparency and reinforcing collaboration between federal agencies and the government of Guam,” the delegate told the governor.

He explained that the proposed mechanism is designed to “formalize communication, elevate local priorities and ensure the government of

Guam has a direct voice in shaping infrastructure decisions.”

In a report released in May, the Government Accountability Office highlighted the support challenges that confront the DOD on Guam.

While the military size on Guam is projected to double in 10 years—from 10,000 in 2024 to 20,000 in 2033—the GAO noted that the department has yet to determine the infrastructure capacity it needs to support the population surge, stunting its ability to make adequate plans.

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