AGP Executive Report
Last update: 2 hours agoLocal Budget Moves: Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula signed the FY2027 budget bill into law Oct. 1 but used line-item vetoes to remove several appropriations, including about $11.9 million in Capital Improvement Program projects, plus cuts tied to legal affairs, Manu’a shoreline/disaster access roads, Swains transportation, and emergency road repairs. Pension Debt Talks: The Senate postponed further action on a bill to convert ASG’s $30M+ debt to the American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund into a formal loan, citing repayment concerns; a separate measure to codify ASTCA in territorial law was also temporarily set aside. Seabed Mining Pushback: Rep. Uifa’atali Amata told the federal IGIA meeting that American Samoa opposes deep-sea mining in its waters, warning about environmental risks and the use of “unchecked” autonomous systems. NOAA Mapping for Minerals: A new NOAA mapping expedition is underway near American Samoa to fill remaining seafloor mapping gaps tied to potential critical minerals. TBAS Milestone: Territorial Bank of American Samoa marked its 10th anniversary and announced the Lolo Matalasi Moliga Scholarship—20 awards of $5,000 for ASCC students. Civics Competition: The American Samoa Chamber of Commerce selected Shalidiloya Faavaoga to represent the territory at the 2026 National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C. Energy Program Opportunity: Applications opened for Hawaiʻi and Pacific Island communities to join the DOE’s Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (deadline Nov. 18).
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