David M. Apatang
GOVERNOR David M. Apatang will leave for Washington, D.C., on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, to continue the late Gov. Arnold I. Palacios’ mission in the consultation with the U.S. pursuant to Section 902 of the Covenant.
In an interview on Tuesday, Apatang told reporters that during the first few days of his visit to the nation’s capital, he will attend a meeting of the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs.
He said he is not sure of the exact date when the Section 902 talks will resume, but he will carry forward the same priorities that the late governor set during the initial consultations last year, “to make sure that we are in the right direction.”
Apatang added that he could not reveal the details of what he will bring up in the 902 talks, but he hinted that they will focus on economic recovery for the CNMI and ensuring the Commonwealth receives the federal funding it is entitled to. “That’s what we are aiming at,” he said.
“There is no change in the list of people on the CNMI panel,” the governor said.
When the 902 talks, which began last year, resumed virtually on July 16, 2025, Palacios led the CNMI delegation, which included former Public Auditor Michael Sablan and retired Judge Wesley M. Bogdan.
The governor said he will also bring support staff, as well as officials from the Finance Department and the Office of Management and Budget.
Key CNMI priorities in the Section 902 talks include:
• Resumption of specific long-term planning and financial assistance provisions contained in the Covenant to support government expenses and economic development initiatives;
• Strategic actions to enhance tourism and transportation to and from the Northern Marianas; and
• Coordinated programs to improve access to skilled labor in the CNMI.
