Secretary of Finance Tracy B. Norita has resigned, submitting a resignation letter to Governor David M. Apatang dated Monday, August 24, effective October 8. Her last day in the office will be Friday, August 28, after which she will take her remaining annual leave through her resignation date.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve your administration and the people of the Commonwealth as Secretary of Finance from January 2023 to the present,” Norita wrote, crediting the administration’s “commitment to rebuilding trust, integrity, and accountability in government” and citing progress rebuilding the department’s internal systems, strengthening compliance and financial reporting.
“Serving during this period has also required navigating significant and complex fiscal challenges in exceptionally difficult circumstances,” she wrote. “I am proud to have been part of the effort to address these challenges, strengthen the Department’s financial operations, and help position the Commonwealth for greater fiscal stability.”
Reached Wednesday afternoon, Norita told NMI News Service that she and her family are moving to Washington state. “Saipan will always be home,” she said. The Office of the Governor told NMI News Service a statement is forthcoming.
Her departure from the office lands at a consequential moment for the Department of Finance: Monday, August 31, the first business day after her leave begins, is the last date the department has said it can fund the full 25 percent pension benefit payment, per its notice to the Settlement Fund this month, with $2.6 million needed against $1.6 million appropriated under Public Law 24-34. Who will lead the department through that deadline and until the resignation takes effect has not been announced. The reason for her departure beyond the letter’s language has not been disclosed.
Norita led Finance through the post-typhoon fiscal period, including this month’s pension funding notice and the department’s ongoing budget implementation. This story will be updated with the governor’s statement.
