The U.S. Department of Education is implementing new requirements for COVID-19 relief funding. 

On Wednesday, the department announced that policy updates related to $4.4 billion  in state COVID-19 relief funds fall in line with President Donald Trump’s push for greater transparency and accountability in federal spending.

Under the new guidelines, funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act spent on allowable expenditures must be paid by the states in advance and then submitted to USDOE for reimbursement. 

Previously, states could draw down on existing awards to pay for approved services  without immediate proof that funds were used for authorized purposes. 

As for what this means for Guam, KUAM reached out to the Education Oversight Chair, Senator Vince Borja. 

He said, “I am in dialogue with the lt. governor, who has their fiscal team and GDOE looking at this new policy, and we are planning to meet early next week.”