AGP Executive Report

Falklands Tension: A new Trump push is stirring debate over Falklands sovereignty, despite the islanders’ 2013 vote to stay with Britain—while Argentina’s Milei backs “go back to England” talk. Overtime Rule Flip: The U.S. Department of Labor moved to rescind the Biden-era overtime salary threshold, restoring the older 2019 level after court vacated the 2024 rule. Power Disruption: Severe weather knocked out electricity on American Samoa’s east side Saturday, with ASPA restoring power after crews battled heavy rain. Telecom & Safety: ASTCA is training tower climbers/rescuers and preparing to take over the 911 call center, while also planning CCTV coverage for government sites. Local Life: ASCC held its 84th commencement, and Bluesky is the title sponsor of the 2026 Miss American Samoa Pageant.

Overtime Rule Reversed: The U.S. Department of Labor has formally rescinded the Biden-era overtime exemption threshold after courts vacated the 2024 rule, restoring the pre-2024 salary levels—meaning many employers may need to re-check which salaried workers qualify for overtime. Local Power Disruption: On Saturday, severe weather caused an underground fault on ASPA’s Feeder 1, knocking out power for parts of the east side from Leloaloa to Onenoa; crews worked through heavy rain and restored service around 12:30 p.m. ASTCA Training Push: ASTCA ran a Tower Climber/Rescuer and Rigging training week for 24 trainees, aiming to keep telecom infrastructure work safer and certification-ready. Community Milestone: ASCC held its 84th Commencement Exercises, celebrating 75 graduates. Sports Spotlight: The Pacific sports wrap highlights big moments from Oceania Athletics in Cairns, with regional athletes including American Samoa on the track and field.

Overtime Rules Reversed: The U.S. Department of Labor has formally restored the pre-2024 overtime exemption rules after courts vacated the Biden-era salary threshold, meaning the older salary levels are back in play for exempt classifications. Local Safety & Training: ASTCA wrapped a Tower Climber/Rescuer and Rigging training week for 24 trainees, aiming to keep telecom crews ready for high-risk work. Domestic Violence Case: A man was arrested after an alleged assault on his wife and 17-year-old stepson following a dispute that also involved taking a vehicle without permission. Power Restored After Storm: Severe weather caused an east-side outage when an underground fault hit Feeder 1; ASPA restored power around 12:30 p.m. after crews battled heavy rain. Telecom Upgrade: ASTCA is preparing to take over the 911 call center from DPS, with operators headed for specialized overseas training. Community Milestone: ASCC held its 84th commencement, with Agriculture Director Daniel Elisara Helsham as the speaker.

Guinness Moment: An Idaho man, David Rush, broke a Disney Cruise record by snapping 84 toothpicks in one minute—still awaiting official Guinness confirmation. Mail Woes: USPS is still getting letters to far-flung Americans, but a bigger financial crunch is forcing price hikes and service strain. Regional Games Update: Pacific Games sailing and va’a venues shifted to Mulifanua after wreckage issues in Vaiusu Bay, with organizers pointing to better Olympic-qualifier conditions. Local Energy Costs: ASPA announced a fuel surcharge jump that will push residential electricity from 38 to 46 cents per kWh in May. Public Safety Upgrade: ASTCA says it’s preparing to take over the 911 call center from DPS, including sending operators for overseas training. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: Finafinau and allies are collecting signatures for a letter urging the Fono to protect local waters as federal steps toward leasing move forward.

Hospital Funding Update: Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero’s ARP hospital allocation in Guam has fallen again—down to $83.543M from $103.543M in March—leaving just $555,555 spent and $82.988M encumbered as the clock runs to a Dec. 31, 2026 deadline. Pacific Games Venue Shift: Sailing and va’a events were moved to Mulifanua after wreckage left parts of Vaiusu Bay unsuitable. FEMA Money Watch: FEMA approved a nearly $307M disaster/COVID recovery package covering multiple territories, including about $10.8M for Guam’s power distribution tied to Mawar claims still under review. Local Governance & Safety: ASTCA is preparing to take over the 911 call center from DPS, with operators headed overseas for training. Energy Costs: ASPA fuel surcharge increases are set to raise electricity rates starting in May.

Billionaire politics hits the spotlight: California’s Tom Steyer is leaning hard into “tax-the-rich” messaging as early voting begins for the June 2 primary, trying to sell voters on a billionaire who says he’s a “class traitor.” FEMA money still moving, but delays linger: Guam’s power utility says it’s still waiting on about $34.4M in FEMA Mawar claims, while FEMA approved a fresh $307M disaster/COVID recovery package that includes support for American Samoa and other Pacific territories. Local costs rise: American Samoa Power Authority is set to increase its fuel surcharge, pushing residential rates from 38¢/kWh in April to 46¢/kWh in May. Public safety upgrade: ASTCA is preparing to take over the 911 call center from DPS, with operators sent overseas for training. Deep-sea mining pushback: Finafinau is collecting signatures for a letter urging the Fono to protect local waters as federal steps toward offshore leasing continue. Fueling the debate: DOL finalized a technical change restoring the 2019 overtime salary threshold after court vacated the 2024 rule.

FEMA Recovery Funding: FEMA approved about $113M for Arizona’s economic recovery, including $105M for Dignity Community Care and $5.5M for the Havasupai Tribe’s flood repairs—part of a broader federal recovery push that also includes American Samoa in this funding batch. Local Energy Costs: ASPA says fuel costs are driving a sharp fuel surcharge hike for May, pushing residential rates from 38¢/kWh to 46¢/kWh. Emergency Services Upgrade: ASTCA is set to take over the 911 call center from DPS, with operators sent overseas for specialized training. Workplace Rules: The U.S. DOL formally rescinded the Biden-era overtime changes, restoring the 2019 overtime salary threshold. Community & Culture: MBOPA is ramping up fundraising for Saint Joseph’s College hall renovations, while Bluesky is the title sponsor of the 2026 Miss American Samoa pageant.

911 Overhaul: ASTCA says it will take over the 911 emergency call center from DPS, sending operators overseas for specialized training to better triage calls and route help to medical, fire, and police. Electricity Costs: ASPA approved a fuel surcharge hike that will push residential power from 38¢/kWh in April to 46¢/kWh in May, with fuel costs driving most of the increase. Opioid Settlement: Delaware’s $7.4B Purdue Pharma deal is now legally effective, continuing the nationwide push to fund communities and bar the Sacklers from selling opioids. Work Rules Update: The U.S. Department of Labor restored the 2019 overtime salary threshold after courts vacated the Biden-era rule. Deep-Sea Mining Pressure: Local groups are circulating a sign-on letter urging the Fono to protect territorial waters as federal steps toward leasing move forward. Culture & Community: May AAPI Heritage Month is being marked locally, and Bluesky is the title sponsor of the 2026 Miss American Samoa Pageant.

Opioid Fallout: Delaware says its $7.4B Purdue Pharma/Sackler settlement is now legally effective, with funds flowing to communities and victims and a permanent bar on the Sacklers selling opioids in the U.S. Fuel Costs: ASPA is raising the fuel surcharge, pushing residential power from 38¢/kWh in April to 46¢/kWh in May, with fuel making up most of the total per-kilowatt-hour cost. Public Safety Upgrade: ASTCA is set to take over the 911 call center from DPS, sending operators overseas for specialized training and rolling out CCTV across government properties. Labor Rules Back in Line: The U.S. Department of Labor restored the 2019 overtime salary threshold after court vacated the Biden-era 2024 rule. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: A community letter drive is building opposition to proposed deep-sea mining, while the Governor also created a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee to oversee any next steps.

Overtime Rule Reversed: The U.S. Department of Labor restored the 2019 overtime salary threshold to $684 per week in a final technical update after federal courts struck down the 2024 Biden-era rule—closing out the litigation and resetting what employers must follow for exempt workers. Local Budget Pressure: American Samoa’s governor says FY2026 revenue is running about 13.2% under projections and is asking agencies to pause nonessential hiring and travel to protect services. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: The governor set up a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee, while local groups are circulating a community letter urging the Fono to act to safeguard waters and rights as federal steps toward leasing move forward. Community & Culture: A Bluesky-MASI title sponsorship was announced for the 2026 Miss American Samoa pageant, and Swains Island marks its 101st flag-raising anniversary with a public holiday and church service.

National History Day: American Samoa-linked student Genevieve Laguna just qualified for the June 14–18 national contest at the University of Maryland, College Park, after placing second in Indiana—she’ll compete alongside students from Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and international schools. Local Education & Recognition: In American Samoa, students keep racking up wins and milestones, from Dean’s List honors to community awards like the Rotary Four-Way Test banquet recognizing 12 high school students. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: The territory’s deep-sea mining fight is heating up—Gov. Pulaali’i has set up a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee, while local groups are circulating a sign-on letter urging the Fono to protect waters and respect territorial rights. Culture & Community: Bluesky is now the title sponsor of the 2026 Bluesky Miss American Samoa Pageant, and the “Amerika Samoa” exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum spotlights Samoan tattooing and siapo. Jobs & Services: USPS is holding a job fair in Quincy, Massachusetts, for automotive technician roles.

Telecom Billing Change: Nepal Telecom says international outgoing calls will now be billed in 60-second pulses for 58 countries, starting Jestha 1, 2083, using access codes 00, 1424, 1425 and 1445—this includes destinations such as India, China, Guam and American Samoa. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback: In American Samoa, Finafinau founder Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka is collecting signatures for a community letter to the Fono opposing deep-sea mining, warning federal moves could advance without meaningful territorial participation; the governor also set up a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee to oversee DSM-related activity. Local Governance & Oversight: The Territorial Audit Office says the Criminal Justice Planning Agency may owe about $459,000 tied to the COPS program, citing grant compliance and training shortfalls. Community & Culture: Samoa’s Oceania swimmers turned in standout results at the Oceania Championships in Suva, signaling a widening medal gap for Pacific nations.

Deep-Sea Mining Push Meets Local Pushback: American Samoa’s deep-sea mining fight is heating up as Finafinau founder Sabrina Suluaʻi Mahuka leads a sign-on letter urging the Fono to take “affirmative action” to protect local waters, citing federal lease-sale momentum and the territory’s cession-based rights. Local Oversight Moves: Gov. Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula also set up a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee with seven subcommittees to coordinate infrastructure, revenue sharing, and compliance. Budget Pressure: The governor says FY2026 Q2 revenues are about 13.2% below projections, prompting a hiring pause for noncritical roles and tighter travel spending. Accountability Watch: The Territorial Audit Office says the Criminal Justice Planning Agency may have to repay about $459,000 from a COPS grant after spending on truant officers that didn’t meet grant requirements. Transportation Update: Damen Shipyards met with PAAS on the new fast ferries, with long-term connectivity benefits for Manu’a highlighted. Culture in Chicago: A Field Museum exhibit, “Amerika Samoa,” spotlights Samoan tattooing and siapo, built with Chicago’s Samoan community.

Missile Defense Cost Shock: A new U.S. government report says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense could run about $1.2 trillion over 20 years, with space-based interceptors driving most of the price—and even then, big nuclear arsenals could overwhelm it. Opioid Settlement Moves: Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family opioid settlement is now taking effect, with states like New Mexico receiving tens of millions to fund treatment, prevention, and recovery. ASG Budget Pressure: American Samoa’s FY2026 second-quarter update shows revenues about 13.2% below projections, prompting hiring limits and tighter spending. Vehicle Audit: The Territorial Audit Office flagged 100+ unregistered light-duty government vehicles, urging stronger controls. Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Local groups are rallying the Fono against offshore mining, while the governor set up a Deep Sea Minerals Steering Committee to oversee potential activity. Cyber Safety Push: Samoa and partners launched regional efforts to curb cyber scams and fake pages across the Pacific.

Budget Watch: Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula says FY2026’s 2nd-quarter revenues are about 13.2% below projections, urging agencies to pause non-critical hiring and postpone non-essential travel to protect essential services. Vehicle Accountability: The Territorial Audit Office says it found 100+ unregistered light-duty government vehicles, pointing to gaps in fleet controls across major departments. Deep-Sea Mining Push: The governor has set up a Deep-Sea Minerals Steering Committee, while critics argue federal “public education” must include more viewpoints and real time for community input. Local Governance & Services: ARPA-funded upgrades at LBJ Tropical Medical Center include a second CT scanner and reliability improvements. Community Notices: USPS is holding a job fair May 14 in Quincy, and May 13 is a public holiday for Swains Island’s 101st anniversary.

USPS Hiring Push: The U.S. Postal Service is holding a job fair Thursday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Quincy Post Office (47 Washington St.), with full-time Automotive Technician openings (starting at $32.13/hour) and federal benefits—applicants must be 18 (or 16 with a high school diploma), and bring a driver’s license plus work history for the past seven years. Deep-Sea Mining Governance: Gov. Pulaali’i Nikolau Pula has set up a Deep-Sea Minerals Steering Committee, while a revised call for outreach stresses multiple viewpoints, longer timelines, and clear Samoan-language access. Local Calendar: A public holiday is declared for Wednesday, May 13, for Swains Island’s 101st anniversary. Health & Safety: The governor toured ARPA-funded upgrades at LBJ Tropical Medical Center, including new CT scanner capacity. Cyber Focus: Samoa’s cyber safety outreach program is expanding across the Pacific to target scams and fake pages.