Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata has indicated that funding for American Samoa’s port improvements is expected to be secured despite the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. The territory currently has one House-passed funding request awaiting a final vote, which would end the shutdown, and another allocation was recently finalized and signed into law.
Amata’s requests include $1 million designated for port improvement projects, which is pending a final vote in Congress. In addition, American Samoa received a $900,000 increase to its operations fund through the Office of Insular Affairs (OIA), which became law in late January. These appropriations packages also cover other federal funds and services that American Samoa receives annually from various U.S. departments and agencies.
The House of Representatives passed all 12 annual appropriations bills, but the Senate did not approve half of them before the Continuing Resolution expired at midnight on January 31. This resulted in a partial government shutdown due to disagreements over Department of Homeland Security funding levels. Six out of twelve appropriations bills had already been enacted prior to the deadline.
A compromise proposal is currently under negotiation and may be sent to the House this week. If approved, it would provide full-year funding for outstanding departments, agencies, and programs, including resources for American Samoa’s port projects.
“I’m very confident our funds will be secured,” said Congresswoman Amata. “American Samoa’s funding is in the House-passed appropriations bills that include the Department of Transportation, while the Department of the Interior is already funded. Our remaining funds are right at the finish line. I’m optimistic the necessary agreement will be in place soon, government funding will be voted through, and this partial shutdown will end much sooner than the unfortunate one that lasted from October 1 through November 12, 2025.”
She added: “I oppose these shutdowns as they are generally unnecessary and funding disagreements should be resolved for the good of the country before deadlines.”
Departments with approved funding include Agriculture—with nutrition programs such as grants for American Samoa—Interior with $29 million allocated for operations and other grant support, Veterans Affairs, Commerce, and Justice. Key agencies like EPA, NOAA, and FDA have also received their budgets.
Departments still awaiting passage are Transportation—which includes highway and port funds relevant to American Samoa—Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, Education, Defense (including an authorized military pay raise), and Homeland Security.
