SAIPAN — Governor David M. Apatang issued Directive 2025-008A revising austerity measures for FY2026, ordering reduced work hours, a government-wide hiring freeze, and strict limits on overtime, travel, utilities, and other operating costs across executive branch departments and agencies. The order cites Public Law 24-14 and sets immediate compliance requirements for managers and employees.
The directive maintains regular 80-hour pay periods during the transition but temporarily reinstates DFEMS to 106 hours and DPS/DOC to 86 hours until the effective reduction date. Excepted-service employees who are currently “exempt” from reduced hours must sign contract amendments by Nov. 7, 2025, or receive a Nov. 10, 2025 termination notice providing 60 days’ notice. Leave cannot be used to supplement reduced hours.
For law enforcement, sworn DPS and DOC officers are capped at 80 hours per pay period; DFEMS emergency responders at 100 hours; Customs & Biosecurity and DLNR sworn officers, and emergency dispatchers, remain at 80 hours if funded; administrative/non-response sworn personnel are reduced to 70 hours. Overtime is restricted to unforeseen events and limited to eligible staff directly involved in law enforcement, fire, emergency management, or health services, with FLSA compliance required.
Agencies must strictly limit locally funded travel, terminate nonessential contracts, leases, subscriptions, and phones, and transition to prepaid electric meters within 30 days (DOC facility and streetlights excepted). Offices must implement energy conservation and cannot reprogram utility funds to other categories. Fuel use is to be reduced and monitored; government vehicles are for official use only. Personnel actions effective in FY2026 may not include salary increases. The Civil Service Commission has issued notice under NMIAC §10-20.2-1101 to effectuate the restriction. Managers are instructed to review AWOL, LWOP (non-FMLA/military), and adverse actions when considering terminations, furloughs, or RIFs, and to follow NMIAC procedures for civil service employees. All legal holidays in FY2026 will be paid, unless changed by law. Revolving funds may be used, subject to availability, for personnel and specified operations, including fuel, communications, office supplies, and inter-island training travel; CUC billings will be applied to general revolving accounts until exhausted. The order applies to municipal offices as provided in PL 24-14, and allows gubernatorial waivers where justified and funded.
