Officials from the Department of Corrections appeared before lawmakers to present their proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026. 

However, much of the discussion shifted beyond finances, focusing instead on the urgent need for a new prison facility, ongoing contraband problems, staffing shortages, and the impact of overcrowding. 

“You have done the best you can. That's all we're asking for. That's all we can ask for is for you to do your best unfortunately the prison has been through so many situations. Maybe it's receivership - it's not your issue - it goes far to the administration providing things that you need. This administration has done nothing to help DOC,” said Senator Telo Taitague.  

Taitague spoke to officials from DOC during their Fiscal Year 2026 budget hearing. 

On Tuesday morning, Fred Bordallo Jr. went before just a handful of lawmakers. 

Although the almost two and a half hour hearing did cover funding and shortfalls, much was spent discussing the need for a new prison facility, the every day struggles with overpopulation in the prisons and the contraband coming in.

“I set expectations and we're gonna have some shortfalls. A lot of it is going to be on the medical side, if we continue to increase inmate confinement, if the population increases, there was even a trend, that we were fluctuating around 950, if we ever go to 1000 inmates, we don't have the space or capacity for that,” said DOC spokesperson Major Antone Aguon. 

Aguon vented on the challenges, adding that they need help.

“Like I said, I’ve been up there for 31 years, we have not added a single bed there to that prison since 1998- isn't that shameful? 1998 when FDF and hagatna under former Gov. Gutierrez and Angel Sablan when he was a director, that's the last time we put a bed there and yet our numbers continue to go up and we continue to struggle with maintaining it. We have brought the media in, we're doing the best we can. I understand the government's limitations,” added Aguon. “Crime is not sexy, prison is not sexy, but every day the men and women who come to work try our best to keep the place safe and so all of us go home, there's no escape, and contraband is not introduced - it is a struggle like no one can believe.”