Project R.I.F.L.E., short for “Restructuring Initiative For Fiscal Leadership And Efficiency,” outlines what its authors call a “mission-driven plan designed to recalibrate the Government of Guam's operational posture in the face of rapidly vanishing federal support.”

The budget proposal prioritizes healthcare, education, public safety, and the economy.

To meet the mission, it suggests eliminating local funding for a handful of agencies such as the Department of Chamorro Affairs, Guam Ancestral Lands Commission, and PBS. 

That list also includes the Bureau of Women’s Affairs.

Operating with a local budget between just $272,000 and $277,000, BWA Director Jayne Flores says their work does intersect with each of the priority areas.

One example is BWA’s i Ninametgot Famalåo’an High School Completion scholarship program, awarding $500 scholarships to women over 18 years old who return to complete their high school education.

Another is their Guahan Doula Project, aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

It has trained 24 doulas ready to promote healthier lifestyles during pregnancy and advocate for integrating cultural practices into maternal care.

BWA also secures significant federal funding, but as federal support for cultural and community-based initiatives shrink in Washington, it's become less of an option.

“These grants fund the salaries or partial salaries of victim advocates, legal advocates, legal advocates for the Attorney General’s office. We fund emergency housing for domestic violence victims. We fund tons of counseling for sexual assault victims. All of that would be in jeopardy if you didn’t have a Bureau of Women’s Affairs,” said Flores. 

When asked what she thinks the long-term risks a project like this poses for BWA and the other targeted agencies, she said it ultimately comes down to a loss of culture.

“If you lose your culture you lose everything,” added Flores. 

She also shares her view on the message the project sends to the people.

“Well the authors of this project obviously don’t care about women, women’s health, women’s safety, or women’s education because those are the things that the Bureau of Women’s Affairs is addressing,” said Flores. 

For now, Project R.I.F.L.E. remains a suggested solution to Guam's mounting fiscal challenges.

Lawmakers and Adelup will ultimately decide its fate, a decision that could possibly reshape Guam's funding priorities for the next fiscal year and determine the future of agencies that serve our community and our island’s culture.