OIA Press Releases (2020 to Present)

Department of the Interior bison seal set against green mountainous background.

Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs Awards $30,000 to American Samoa for Freedom 250 Flag Day Celebration

03/27/2026

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs has awarded a $30,000 grant to the American Samoa Government to support a Freedom 250 signature event during the territory’s 2026 Flag Day celebration. The project, “Flag Day Futures: American Samoa Youth Celebrate Freedom 250,” will engage students in designing and presenting floats that highlight the territory’s history, culture, and contributions to the United States. Funding supports hands-on educational programming, mentorship, and community participation, advancing a key national priority to ensure U.S. territories are fully represented in America’s 250th anniversary.

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OIA Launches Series of On-Island Biosecurity Trainings for the Territories

01/17/2025

The first of a series of on-island biosecurity trainings will be provided in the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) in 2025. As announced in September 2024, funding from President Biden’s Investing in America places a strong emphasis on strengthening local capacity in biosecurity measures, promoting the protection and restoration of biologically rich and culturally significant island and coastal ecosystems, and enhancing community resilience against invasive species and environmental degradation.

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OIA Provides Seed Funding to Establish Micronesian Islands Forum Secretariat in Palau

01/17/2025

A $400,000 grant has been presented to the Governor of Guam Lourdes Leon Guerrero and Palau President Surangel Whipps, Jr. from the TAP program which will fund the establishment of the Micronesian Islands Forum (MIF) Secretariat in the Republic of Palau. While the MIF Secretariat will be located in Palau, Guam provided strong leadership and collaboration with the island’s leaders to complete and submit the final application.

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