Freshman senator Shawn Gumataotao is pushing to dismantle the Office of Civil Defense, calling it a broken system that’s cost the island federal dollars and public trust. But government leaders warn his plan to scatter responsibilities could do more harm than good. 

The senator says Guam’s 75-year-old civil defense law has “run its course". Citing abuse of overtime, misdirection of funds, and repeated noncompliance with FEMA rules, he introduced Bill 179, the Guam Emergency Management Modernization Act of 2025.  "Right at this time, it requires an action. if we want to continue down this road, so be it. but we are seeing it is impeding the ability of our emergency management response agencies to really do their job. You aren't going to see it right away, but you will see it," said Gumataotao.

His proposal would abolish the Office of Civil Defense and replace it with a Bureau of Emergency Management under the Guam Fire Department. Hazard mitigation would shift to the Department of Public Works, while the Governor’s Office would retain recovery duties.

"At this point, a change like this in my opinion is necessary and really is to change an old law, updating, perhaps utilizing skills of a group of men and women of the Guam Fire Department to be able to assist for the betterment of emergency management on Guam," he added.

But not everyone agrees. Governor’s communications director Krystal Paco-San Agustin says the bill fragments a system that needs unity in a crisis, noting Fire Chief Daren Burrier wasn’t consulted. The chief said, "At this time, knowing it is in bill form, I think it’s created a great deal of discussion. My focus is on the Guam Fire Department and making sure our personnel are ready to respond to the emergencies of the people of Guam.”

Gumataotao says his model mirrors Florida’s approach, creating a dedicated emergency fund to protect disaster aid and keep federal dollars from slipping away. "The question would be would we be really ready. And a policy like this, it wasn't one that was easily put together. I have spent many years working with emergency management across the region, and my own experience at home so this is not an easy decision and it hasn't been," he stated.

Fire Chief Burrier stresses that whatever lawmakers decide, he’ll keep his department mission-ready, noting, "The oversight chair had his reasonings behind the bill. Wherever it goes, as Guam fire chief my job is to continue on with the tasks I’ve been given — and in any laws passed by the legislature and signed into law by the governor, I will abide.”