CNMI Governor Arnold Palacios recently returned from his trip to Washington D.C.

His administration is also keeping watch of the developments coming out to the white house and monitoring potential impacts to the Northern Marianas.

“We haven't really had a major notice on the cuts. We've had a pause. A lot of them have basically opened up. I understand from the press releases and notices that a lot of it is like EPA, NOAA grants that are being cut - not totally but reduced. So I am aware of several under NOAA. So everybody is being asked to let go of people that have been probationary and several on Saipan. But in regards to it being major - no I haven't received anything official,” said Gov. Palacios.

Palacios attended the high-level briefing with President Trump, alongside other state governors and members of the President’s Cabinet.

He adds he plans to use more than $400 million in remaining Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and federal PUA to boost the local economy.