Amata urges rehiring of affected federal employees in the territory

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata responded to Samoa News’ request for comments of her groundwork for when grant funding cuts become a reality in American Samoa. Samoa News published a Just Asking article about rising community concerns on the issue, in its Monday, Mar. 3, 2025 edition.

In her press release, Congresswoman Amata says she will be opening casework for affected federal workers in American Samoa, and contacting agency heads to urge their rehiring.

“I need affected federal workers to contact my office right away so we can start casework for them by first getting the required privacy release from them. I can then write promptly to the heads of the agencies and make a case for them, including the fact we have so few in comparison to nationwide federal employment. I need their job titles and work role descriptions from them, so I can better explain that finding good qualified local workers for these positions in remote American Samoa cannot be easily replaced or duplicated by off islanders or anyone else,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I know that many times our businesses face a critical shortage of workers due to our remote location, and I will explain our unique situation to each agency head who has an employee in American Samoa.”

She continued, “There have already been many cases of workers who have been rehired after they were let go. We don’t want agencies to let go of ‘the baby with the bathwater’ so I will make that same case for rehiring our federal employees in American Samoa.” 

Amata concluded, “I care deeply for these employees and their families, and I know that people across the country and most importantly here in American Samoa were caught off guard.

 “I understand because this is a cycle almost everyone experiences in a lifetime of work and I have been there.

“Whenever there is uncertainty on pay, there is real concern and it’s a very difficult time.

“I am here to fight and make the best case I can for each and every worker in our islands who might be affected.

“Right now, in government for the first time or first time in a long time there is a shrinking of government like the private sector occasionally goes through, but I can and will address our government agencies urgently to let them know the special circumstance of each of our federal employees whose jobs might be affected.

“I understand that the ongoing change in government is to make it more efficient for all of us primarily by eliminating waste, fraud and abuse and improving operational efficiency of government services for all — but any cuts should be fully justified and not just cutting for the sake of cuts!

The Congresswoman also provided a budget update:

“We might learn more during the President’s speech, but it seems the possibility of a short term government shutdown is relatively low, while the more likely scenario is the one both Speaker Johnson and Senate Leader Thune expect — a Continuing Resolution keeping government funding level until September 30.”

Amata noted, “More changes are still on the way and we cannot continue with pandemic-era trillion-dollar budget deficits because these huge deficits jeopardize government services for everyone and eventually are a path toward fiscal disaster.

“Instead, we have to focus on the most important funding and services, especially Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, so the federal government can continue its support for the people of American Samoa.”

BACKGROUND

Editor’s note: Samoa News should point out that the DOGE seems to now be turning its focus on Social Security, with 7,000 employees on the chopping block as of Mar. 3rd — closing many offices across the country.

Elon Musk is calling Social Security a “ponzi scheme’ and is looking to cut its benefits, which would include Medicare.

General advice from people knowledgeable about current cuts says that Social Security recipients should start ‘saving’ or ‘budgeting’ their Social Security funds for ‘pauses’ that will happen as a result of DOGE’s actions.