SAIPAN — Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said federal policy for U.S. island jurisdictions must better reflect the realities of distance, logistics, and scale as she concluded a Washington, D.C. agenda that included meetings with top federal officials at the 2026 Interagency Group on Insular Areas plenary session.
Governor Leon Guerrero met with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Director Alex Meyer, and White House officials during the trip. She said Guam’s partnership with the Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular and International Affairs has evolved into one focused on transparency, technical support, and measurable results, according to the release.
“When policy recognizes geography, scale, and logistics, results follow,” Leon Guerrero said. She added that island jurisdictions should not be treated as an afterthought in systems designed for the continental United States.
The administration said Guam has secured millions in Technical Assistance Program and Maintenance Assistance Program grants, while also strengthening public safety systems, natural resource management, biosecurity defenses against invasive species, and financial accountability frameworks.
Leon Guerrero also said federal-territorial relations should continue moving toward what she described as durable alignment, with infrastructure, healthcare, workforce policy, and environmental protections calibrated to Pacific conditions.
The statement is part of a broader set of discussions in Washington involving island jurisdictions, including issues that also affect the CNMI such as federal support, public safety, infrastructure, and island-specific policy implementation.
The administration said Guam remains committed to strengthening institutional partnerships so federal decision-making better reflects island communities and supports long-term resilience, accountability, and modernization.
