Guam Delegate James Moylan is urging the U.S. Department of Education to exempt Guam from a recent change in the American Rescue Plan Act payment structure, citing concerns over its impact on local education projects.

In his letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Moylan called for an immediate exemption from the shift to a reimbursement payment model, which was implemented by acting Secretary Denise Carter. 

He warned that this change creates challenges for Guam, making it difficult to complete essential projects before the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

Moylan further highlighted the burdens faced by U.S. territories under this new payment structure, noting that Guam's Department of Education still has a significant amount of ARP funds to liquidate before the March 31, 2026 deadline. 

He emphasized that without an exemption, critical projects including school renovations, classroom upgrades, technology improvements, and safety measures, may be delayed or left incomplete.

Moylan also referenced the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar in 2023, which left many schools damaged. He stressed that the ARP funding is crucial to ensuring safe learning environments and preventing disruptions to students’ education.