26 Feb 2011

CNMI prepares contingencies in case of federal shutdown

9:57 am on 26 February 2011

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas is preparing contingency plans in the event the US federal government partially shuts down.

The shutdown is possible if the White House and US Congress fail to reach a deal on a federal spending bill by March the 4th.

The Acting Governor Eloy Inos is forming a team that will assess the impact a partial federal government shutdown could have on the CNMI.

Mr Inos says the team will look into the possibilities, for example, of any impact on the operations of US Customs and Border Protection or the Transportation Security Administration, which are guarding borders.

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan's office earlier said unless the US Congress passes another stopgap measure, the CNMI would be hit by a crippling federal shutdown.