SAIPAN – Governor David M. Apatang has directed all executive branch departments, offices, and activity heads to implement austerity measures for Fiscal Year 2026, citing fiscal recovery as a top priority.
In Directive 2026-008, issued Oct. 1, 2025, the governor ordered reduced work hours, modified scheduling, unpaid holidays, and restrictions on hiring, leave, overtime, travel, and contracts. The directive also allows terminations, furloughs, and reductions in force tied to employee performance and budget levels.
Effective Oct. 5, 2025, government work hours are set from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A hiring freeze is imposed, and no salary increases will be authorized in FY 2026. The directive further identifies nine holidays, including Commonwealth Cultural Day, Citizenship Day, and Constitution Day, that will be observed as unpaid days.
Law enforcement officers will see a six-hour adjustment in each pay period, with capped hours for sworn Department of Public Safety, Department of Corrections, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services officers.
Cost-containment steps include restrictions on overtime, travel, contracts, leases, and the termination of nonessential cellphones and landlines. Departments are also directed to transition utility accounts to prepaid meters and to implement energy conservation and fuel-saving measures.
The directive permits use of revolving funds for limited operational needs, applies austerity rules to municipal department heads, and reaffirms compliance with Public Law 24-14.
Governor Apatang concluded the order by noting that the measures do not create enforceable rights against the Commonwealth, its officers, or employees.
