The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) government is considering furloughing up to 400 workers as it confronts a severe budget squeeze.
The administration has presented lawmakers with two scenarios for the 2027 fiscal year.
They are: retain workers on a 40-hour fortnight without furloughs; or maintain a 64-hour fortnight while furloughing an estimated 200 to 400 employees.
CNMI governor David Apatang said the government is awaiting emergency regulations from the Civil Service Commission on how furloughs would be implemented.
“We have to do furlough, but the Secretary of Finance and our Budget Office Director says that there’s two scenarios, so it’s one or the other,” he said.
The furlough figures remain estimates under the administration’s proposed budget scenarios, and no final decision has been made on how many workers would be affected.
The financial pressure also extends to retirees.
Finance secretary Tracy Norita told lawmakers the government projects it will need US$11.8 million in the next fiscal year to fund retirees’ additional 25 percent pension payments.
“Chair, based on FY26 payments, our projected amount that’s needed for the 25 percent is $11.8 million,” Norita said.
The government is separately facing a shortfall of slightly less than $1m to cover the 25 percent payments through the end of the current fiscal year. Norita confirmed the administration was still seeking funding to cover the remainder.
The prospect of furloughs has prompted concern on social media, with some residents calling for the government to reduce political and administrative positions before cutting other workers.
Others said the situation reflected the Commonwealth’s heavy reliance on public-sector employment.
“We have been dependent on government employment. Our private sector economy has not been attractive to most,” resident Jane Mack wrote.
“I’m not sure how we fix the situation except to build our economy,” she added.
Apatang said the CNMI had been dealing with economic and financial challenges for several years, while his administration has also been working to bring overdue government audits up to date.
