- House panel begins ‘final leg’ of federal aid investigation (Marianas Variety, 10/5/2023)
- The House Special Committee on Federal Assistance and Disaster-Related Funding is investigating misuse of federal COVID-19 funds by the previous administration. The chairman, Rep. Ralph Yumul, stated that the special committee will issue letters to the Department of Finance for documents to determine how much funding has already been recovered.
- Federal funding without oversight is not recovery. It is risk. (Marianas Variety, 5/26/2026)
- A commentary on federal disaster recovery funding in the Northern Mariana Islands argues that large allocations of U.S. aid following Typhoon Yutu and the COVID-19 pandemic have lacked sufficient legislative and public oversight. The piece cites concerns raised by auditors, lawmakers, and federal agencies regarding procurement practices, delayed reporting, and limited transparency in the management of recovery funds. It contends that stronger oversight mechanisms, public disclosure requirements, and legislative review would reduce the risk of waste and misuse while improving accountability in federally funded programs.
