Today, Judge John Terlaje approved Governor Lou Leon Guerrero's temporary restraining order against the Attorney General's Office and the Opioid Recovery Advisory Council's “Dignity Project", effectively halting its launch. AG Doug Moylan responded with a press conference, defending the project.

Moylan stood before island media today, addressing the judge's TRO issuance. The AG said, "We tried the RFP process, we tried the bid process, and we ended up having to do sole source procurement in order to provide a limited set of services that this island hasn’t seen before.” The project, approved eight months ago in August 2024 by the Opioid Recovery Advisory Council, was set to provide 20 beds daily, meals, and assistance with resources.

Project leader Tahni Duenas highlighted the program’s goals of providing both temporary shelter and pathways to employment, saying, “It offers bridge services such as assistance with applying for welfare assistance as well as the Day Labor Program that we’re supposed to assist with.” 06:08

Moylan commented, “As of today, we had 20 eligible homeless, poor people that were ready to go into this project at 4 o’clock. It was stopped by the Governor of Guam.” He calls today’s ruling a setback for those the project is meant to serve, adding, “When you let pride stand in the way of things, people hurt. They suffer.”

But the Governor’s Office raises concerns over the legality of the contract, arguing it bypassed required approval processes, saying, “While I agree that we must all do more to help our island’s homeless population, it is important that we accomplish this task lawfully. The attorney general has demonstrated a pattern for disregarding the laws that stand between him and his goals.”

AG Moylan also saying the project is funded using settlement money from Guam’s Opioid Recovery Trust Fund - non-taxpayer dollars aimed at helping those struggling with addiction. Moylan said, “Exigency? Irreparable injury? I’m sorry, i respectfully disagree with our judge. The irreparable injury is to the beneficiaries of The Dignity Project, and that is why we are going to the Guam Supreme Court.”

Despite the court’s decision, Moylan once again called for open dialogue between the two offices, saying, “To put an open invitation to my aunt, Lourdes Aflague Leon Guerrero, to call me up, her nephew, Douglas Moylan, to focus on helping our poor and homeless.”

For now, project coordinators, partners, and the 20 individuals who were set to participate remain in limbo as the Attorney General’s Office plans to appeal the ruling to the Guam Supreme Court.