Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The employment status of 60 emergency hires within the Department of Search and Rescue (DSAR) remains unclear. Several weeks after assuming their roles at the Fire Station and Marine Patrol, they were unexpectedly sent home, prompting significant concern from their families.

Inquiries from families have flooded government offices as they seek clarity on whether these employees will receive compensation for their time worked or be permitted to return to their positions.

It has come to light that the hiring process for these emergency personnel was conducted without the required approvals from the Department of Human Resources (HR). After several weeks of service, HR notified DSAR that the hiring move lacked legal standing, raising questions about the legitimacy of their employment.

Attempts to elicit comments from the Human Resources department have proven fruitless. However, Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. has confirmed that the emergency hires have not received any pay since their initial hiring in January. During a conversation with KHJ News, the Acting Governor expressed his concern after discovering that the department has sent all of these young men and women home without resolution.

Parents have voiced their frustrations, noting that their children have diligently reported to work each day for 7 weeks without remuneration. In response to this ongoing issue, the Acting Governor convened meetings on Thursday with the directors of the Department of Search and Rescue and the ARPA Oversight Office to discuss the emergency hires in detail.

During these discussions, Pulumataala learned that the Department of Search and Rescue believed they could utilize funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to pay the emergency hires. However, the Director of ARPA, Puialii James Faumuina, clarified that the funding approved for DSAR was specifically allocated to the construction of a new headquarters for the marine patrol, rather than personnel expenses.

The emergency hires were strategically assigned to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Marine Patrol, and Fire Division to address significant manpower shortages in these critical areas.

At the time of their hiring, the Director of DSAR, Utumoe Alefosio, indicated that these recruits would undergo comprehensive training in the department’s inaugural academy, scheduled to take place this month, further underscoring the urgent need for adequately trained personnel in the field.