CNMI Gov. Arnold Palacios is traveling to Washington D.C. this week to meet with federal agencies and military officials.

The CNMI Office of the Governor told KUAM News that “these high-level discussions will focus on key needs of the CNMI, including leveraging federal assistance for infrastructure projects and further diversifying the Commonwealth’s economic base.”

Palacios is also set to meet with U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Assistant Secretary Carmen Cantor, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Keone Nakoa.

Commonwealth Ports Authority Board chair Jose Ayuyu will be joining Palacios for his meetings with the U.S. Department of Transportation, including senior leaders from the Maritime Administration, and the Federal Aviation Administration representatives.

“The visit to Washington D.C. will also include Governor Palacios’s engagement with leaders from the U.S. Department of Defense, including senior representatives from different military branches. These discussions will include the urgent need for critical infrastructure improvements on all three islands and other projects and activities as part of broader efforts to advance the Department of Defense’s regional initiatives,” the CNMI Governor’s Office told KUAM.

They said Governor Palacios’s travel is funded through federally-sourced grants.