Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — With the partial shutdown of the federal government in effective over the Christmas holiday, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga has directed relevant ASG agencies to identify the number of employees affected as he implemented a furlough for federal grant funded employees — although an exemption applies to certain personnel including first responders, educators in the classroom and medical staff.

In a Dec. 24 general memorandum, the governor explained that the impasses in Washington D.C. over fiscal year 2019 budgetary issues has resulted in a partial shutdown of the federal government.

The governor identified federal departments impacted by the partial shutdown: Homeland Security, Justice, State Department, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Commerce.

Federal agencies also impacted were identified including Environmental Protection Agency, US Trade Representative, Security and Exchange Commission and others.

“Because of the significant role federal grant funding plays in the territorial government’s funding matrix and cash flow, we must necessarily be conservative in expending funds during those times when the flow of some of our federal funds may be in doubt,” the governor said.

While the impact of the partial federal shutdown on ASG has yet to be fully determined, the governor said that each local grantee agency’s funding is dependent on the nature of the grant funding. Additionally, agencies funded by annual discretionary grants are impacted because their funding is determined and provided through the annual appropriations process.

While most grants to state and local government are discretionary, thus arguably impacted, in some instances funds may have already been drawn down by ASG, according to Lolo.

Furthermore, some grants are based on multi-year funding that may have already been funded for 2019.

Therefore the governor directed, the ASG Treasurer and the ASG Budget Office director — in conjunction with Human Resources director and relevant department and agency directors — to identify the status of all discretionary grants funded by the listed federal agencies through annual appropriations and the number of affected employees.

The governor explained that the impacted local departments and agencies would then address the provision of essential government services and make personnel decisions based on four criteria.

“Grant-funded employees providing essential government service shall continue to perform their duties and responsibilities,” said the governor, in the first criteria. And this includes:

• all first responders,

• all medical staff at LBJ Medical Center and the Health Department,

• all classroom educators at the Education Department and the American Samoa Community College,

• all non administrative staff at the local Department of Homeland Security, and

• all employees at the American Samoa Enviromental Protection Agency involved in monitoring air and marine and safe-drinking water quality.

Lolo also says that all grant-funded employees not listed shall be furloughed through the end of the partial federal shutdown, with the exception of contract employees who are exempt from the terms of this General Memorandum.

Additionally, agency heads will need to adjust schedules and duties and responsibilities of non-grant funded employees to ensure continued satisfactory delivery of services to the public.

And until the partial federal government shutdown comes to an end, there will be no payroll processed for the affected grant-funded employees, whether they be at work providing essential services or furloughed, according to the governor.

Lolo noted that all previous full and partial government shutdowns have been brought to an end by Concurrent Resolution of the US Congress approving all back payroll to affected employees. He also noted that the US Senate has already passed such a resolution.

The governor encouraged impact grantee ASG agencies to engage in dialogue with their respective grantor to confirm direction as to further steps as some grantor agencies may have been partially funded for 2019 in which the impact upon them may not be immeditate.  In that event, such findings should be shared with ASG Treasury, Budget Office and Human Resources.

The governor requested that once the number of affected employees is determined and the amount of their payroll is calculated, to provide this information to the Governor’s Office and the ASG Commerce Department “so we can forecast the economic impact in the event this is a protracted partial shutdown.”

“It is regrettable, indeed, to be dealing with this subject matter during the holiday season, but deal with it we must,” the governor said, and encouraged all heads of agencies to follow closely the national news as developments occur.

Lolo intructed cabinet members that if his/her agency “faces special circumstances that impact your ability to serve the public or that are in conflict with this General Memorandum, please discuss them with me personally.”