Senator Shawn Gumataotao has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening accountability in Guam’s homeland security operations by requiring classified positions for key management roles. Bill No. 184-38 (COR), announced Sept. 21, would mandate that the Guam Office of Homeland Security establish classified positions for its grants manager and the director of the Marianas Regional Fusion Center.
The measure follows a 2024 audit by the Office of Public Accountability, which found that leadership gaps and the absence of a qualified fiscal and grants management team led to repeated compliance issues. The audit also revealed that these deficiencies caused federal reimbursements to be frozen, raising concerns about Guam’s reliability as a recipient of homeland security funding.
If enacted, the bill would require Homeland Security to submit copies of project performance, compliance, and financial reports not only to federal agencies but also to the Guam Legislature and the OPA. Gumataotao warned that without merit-based positions, critical financial and reporting responsibilities could fall to political appointees lacking necessary qualifications.
The proposal also mandates that the director of the Marianas Regional Fusion Center be a classified employee, underscoring the role’s importance in intelligence sharing and threat response. A public hearing on Bill 184-38 and a related measure, Bill 179-38, which would abolish the Office of Civil Defense and create a Bureau of Emergency Management within the Guam Fire Department, is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 14.