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10/20/2025 - CNMI Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds announced that the Department of the Interior awarded $5.7-million to support CNMI government operations in the first quarter of the fiscal year.
King-Hinds shared the news in a video posted to social media early Monday morning. She said that DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Angel Demapan announced the award earlier this week.
“The CNMI can begin drawing down around [$400,000] at least for this month and the subsequent months, as they submit the necessary documentation, they can draw down on those funds,” King-Hinds said.
The congresswoman said it is a victory for the CNMI given then difficult environment in Washington, D.C. “Outside of the pandemic or a natural disaster like a typhoon, getting a cash infusion for government operations just does not happen. It just does not happen,” she said as the federal government shutdown continues.
King-Hinds praised the Apatang-Mendiola administration and CNMI legislature for working together and submitting the necessary documents to the Interior to award the funds, which comes with the expectation that the CNMI will receive a $29M loan from MPLT. Future quarterly funding amounts have not been announced.
In a September press conference where the federal funding support was announced, it was disclosed that the first tranche of relief has been identified for the CNMI's first-quarter needs, including utilities, medical referrals, inmate care, and partial pension support.
“There is commitment from the federal government, the Interior and the White House to assist with the first quarter ask. But that commitment comes with conditions. And the condition basically is that the CNMI government acts like the house is on fire by implementing some reforms,” King-Hinds said in a September press conference.
In September, King-Hinds said the Department of Interior is prepared to extend assistance on a quarter-by-quarter basis by reprogramming funds already earmarked for the CNMI. But new infusions will only come after the local government demonstrates good faith by cutting costs and securing the controversial $29.1-million loan from the Marianas Public Land Trust.
Report by Thomas Manglona II
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