HAGÅTÑA (Office of the Guam Governor) — On Wednesday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Adm. Brett Meitus convened the latest Civil-Military Coordinating Council or CMCC meeting at Joint Region Marianas, bringing together top military commanders, federal representatives, and Guam government leadership to continue to chart a shared path forward amid sweeping changes in federal policy, additional investments and evolving defense strategies.
A focal point of the CMCC meeting was the Department of Defense’s ongoing and projected infrastructure expansion on Guam — an effort totaling more than $5 billion in construction projects over the next three to five years. These initiatives include the acceleration of the Missile Defense Agency’s Guam Defense System, significant facility upgrades across military installations, and projects designed to enhance resilience, capacity, and readiness.
Governor Leon Guerrero stated, “As we navigate this historic level of military investment, it’s more important than ever that we align these developments with the needs of our people. Guam must not only be the tip of the spear — we must also be the center of planning, protection, and progress. We are already working in partnership with the DoD to manage these investments on and off base, focusing on projects such as road improvements, our bio-safety lab, and infrastructure critical to underground hardening, as well as addressing policy changes that benefit both our growth and security. We’re also working to merge our Defense of Guam plan to better align local and federal efforts, and we’re actively seeking to decrease the time it takes to certify H-2B workers. This may require legislation to ensure a permanent solution that allows H-2B workers to support both civilian and military projects on Guam.” She added, “These investments are more than buildings and budgets. They are a reflection of the growing responsibilities we carry and the national recognition of Guam’s continued readiness to serve and protect.”
As the military footprint expands, both the governor and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio stressed the importance of inclusive environmental and community planning, referencing the recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA.
“Efficiency should never come at the expense of transparency or of protecting our land and our people,” said Lt. Governor Tenorio. “Our government is urging federal agencies to include local partners — such as Guam EPA, the Department of Agriculture, and Historic Preservation and Coastal Zone Management — to be involved in all stages of project planning and review,” he added.
The meeting also addressed the newly released Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Marianas Island Training and Testing, with a commitment from local and federal leaders to pursue a science-based review process that honors the values and ecological priorities of the island.
“Guam is not just a strategic location on a map. We are a community. We are families. We are all caretakers of this land,” added Lt. Governor Tenorio. “We stand proud with the United States in defense, but we also stand firm in our commitment to environmental stewardship and equitable development. As Guam moves into a period of unprecedented transformation, the CMCC remains a key forum for advancing coordinated, respectful, and transparent civil-military collaboration.”
