Deputy Assistant Secretary Angel A. Demapan and Office of Insular Affairs Budget Director Jeff Dunn were in the CNMI last week meeting with government leaders to lay the groundwork for the upcoming talks, during which the Commonwealth is seeking a seven‑year schedule of federal budgetary support.
Demapan and Dunn met with Gov. David M. Apatang, Lt. Gov. Dennis Mendiola and key Cabinet officials to review fiscal reform milestones requested by the White House Office of Management and Budget. Discussions centered on the CNMI’s ongoing budget challenges, audit improvements, and federal requirements tied to economic and financial reform.
Throughout the week, the federal delegation also met with the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Department of Finance. Their agenda includes reviewing tourism growth targets, inspecting the Garapan Revitalization Project, and assessing audit‑compliance progress with partners such as RMA Associates and Ernst & Young.
Apatang welcomed the continued federal engagement, saying it strengthens cooperation and supports long‑term economic stability as the Commonwealth prepares for next week’s formal consultations.
The Feb. 17 talks are expected to shape the CNMI’s path forward on fiscal recovery, budgetary support and federal partnership. Section 902 of the Covenant allows the CNMI and the United States to meet periodically to discuss matters of mutual interest.
The most recent 902 consultation held in Saipan in 2024 focused on three priority issues: direct financial assistance, tourism and transportation infrastructure, and access to skilled labor.
The upcoming consultations mark the latest chapter in a process that has historically been used to address major economic and policy challenges facing the Commonwealth. While 902 talks are not binding negotiations, they serve as a formal mechanism for the CNMI to present its needs directly to federal decision‑makers and seek coordinated solutions on issues ranging from fiscal stability to long‑term economic development.
