Plaskett Remains Optimistic Amid New Trump Administration
While Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. voiced hope that political parties with widely divergent views will get along for the sake of the U.S. Virgin Islands and the nation during his State of the Territory Address on Monday night, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget announced the latest of President Donald Trump’s orders: a pause in all federal loans and grants until at least mid-February.
2025-01-28 12:26:43 - VI News Staff
The freeze reportedly includes disaster relief aid, education and transportation funding for state, local and tribal governments. Bryan uttered the name “Trump” just once in his address, while touting the billions in federal aid promised to the USVI under the Biden administration. After acknowledging the new and returning lawmakers comprising the 36th Legislature, Bryan extended his congratulations to “President Trump and the newly elected leaders across our great nation.” “I trust that we can move forward — not as Democrats, Independents or Republicans — but as Americans and Virgin Islanders,” he said.
Bryan said little else about the new administration in Washington or about how its flurry of recent executive actions could impact Virgin Islanders. Though Bryan touted the territory’s billions of dollars in recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Trump’s recent comments about overhauling — or possibly getting rid of — FEMA went unmentioned. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett said in a call with the Source Monday night that she paid “keen attention” to the “large amount of issues . . . which are federally related and related to the work of my office, although that may not [have] been stated.”