(Office of the Governor) — Gov. David M. Apatang has formally requested legislative action to authorize an emergency budget appropriation of $3.9 million from the Fiscal Year 2026 Revised General Fund Budget to support the Commonwealth’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November 2025.
The request, transmitted to Senate President Karl King-Nabors and House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, comes in response to the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown, which has temporarily suspended federal funding for SNAP/NAP. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service initially notified the CNMI on October 10, 2025, that funding for the month of November would be halted. The local Nutrition Assistance Program office subsequently sought clarification and received confirmation of this suspension on Oct. 22, 2025 — placing thousands of residents, including families and seniors, at risk of losing access to essential food assistance.
“This emergency measure ensures that no family in the CNMI goes hungry due to circumstances beyond our control,” said Governor Apatang. “We have worked closely with the Nutrition Assistance Program, which has activated efforts with the Salvation Army and Karidat to assist those in immediate need. In addition, the NAP program continues the distribution of new EBT cards on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to help reduce any delay in benefits once a funding solution has been achieved. Even so, this request will ensure that the most vulnerable residents in the CNMI are afforded continuity in their benefits and stability in their homes.”
Governor Apatang emphasized that the proposed expenditure may be fully reimbursable once the federal budget is enacted by the U.S. Congress. As such, the net fiscal impact on the CNMI’s General Fund is expected to be zero. Upon reimbursement, the $3.9 million may be reallocated to other General Fund priorities as determined by the Legislature.
The Governor expressed appreciation to legislative leaders for their partnership in addressing this urgent matter and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring food security for all CNMI residents.
