Gov. David M. Apatang will sign the Fiscal Year 2027 budget Tuesday afternoon, his office announced Monday, clearing the way for the Commonwealth government to resume full operations after a five‑day partial shutdown that sidelined roughly 1,500 General Fund‑supported employees.
The shutdown began the afternoon of Oct. 1, when Apatang issued an executive order halting most government operations after the Legislature failed to deliver a balanced FY 2027 budget before the constitutionally mandated deadline. Under the NMI Constitution, no money may be drawn from the General Fund without an approved balanced budget, except for “certain government services and employees” essential to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
In the order signed Wednesday afternoon, Apatang said the administration received House Bill 24‑108 — the Appropriations and Budget Authority Act of 2027 — at 10:36 a.m. on Sept. 30, leaving “insufficient time to properly review the legislation before the October 1 deadline.”
The shutdown exempted federally funded positions, autonomous agencies, and a wide list of “essential” personnel identified by the governor. All other General Fund‑supported operations were halted until a budget could be signed.
The CNMI Senate and House passed a $100.7 million General Fund budget on Sept. 30, sending the measure to the governor for review. Apatang’s signature Tuesday will allow the government to restore full staffing and reopen offices that were closed during the shutdown.
