CPA asks DOD to back its DOT supplemental funding request

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has asked the U.S Department of Defense to back its recent request to the U.S Department of Transportation for $30 million in supplemental funding for the next two fiscal years.

The CPA administration sent Friday a letter asking Adm. John Christopher Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to support its request to DOT.

CPA stated in the letter that, as part of the CNMI community, CPA shares DOD’s goal in ensuring the nation’s security and CPA needs funding in order for the agency to be able to do its part. Therefore, CPA said, it is asking DOD to support their supplemental funding request with the DOT.

“As Americans and as a community whose strategic location is vital to our nation’s security, we share the common goal and belief that we must all rise to the challenge of ensuring a safe and free U.S. Indo-Pacific. Vital to these efforts is ensuring that the CNMI’s ports remain both operational and self-sustainable. Airports need passenger arrivals to generate revenue. In the absence of an alternative industry or new tourism markets to replace Chinese tourists, the Commonwealth Ports Authority needs supplemental operational funds to not only remain self-sustainable, but to ensure that our ports remain open and ready to support the Department of Defense’s initiatives in the region,” the letter stated.

John Christopher Aquilino

“Please help us in our efforts to secure supplemental funding for port operations while the CNMI government works to address the adverse fiscal impact of a new policy intended to ameliorate national security concerns. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your leadership and efforts to keep us all safe and secure,” the letter further stated.

CPA recently asked the DOT for supplemental funding amounting to $30 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 in order to keep the CNMI’s airports open until fiscal year 2026.

In its letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, CPA said the authority is in dire need of additional funding, given that CPA expects to exhaust all of its federal funds before the end of 2023.

Buttigieg himself said in a response email that he and his team will consider CPA’s thoughts and supports the agency’s mission.

Specifically, CPA is asking DOT to give it $15 million in fiscal year 2024 and another $15 million in fiscal year 2025, for a total of $30 million that would be used to keep CPA afloat until fiscal year 2026.