In a recent government meeting, the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) presented alarming findings from an investigative audit concerning the Guam Homeland Security Office of Civil Defense (GHS OCD). The audit revealed that GHS OCD has failed to receive $8.4 million in federal reimbursements due to noncompliance with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines. This situation has persisted despite GHS OCD's claims of being fully federally funded.

The audit highlighted that GHS OCD's operating costs have been improperly funded through the general fund, which has incurred $71.3 million in expenditures for GHS OCD operations, yet only received $62.9 million in reimbursements. The report indicated that $7.8 million of the owed amount relates to operations under two specific grants that have not been reimbursed, with a significant portion tied to expired grants.

The OPA's findings pointed to a long history of warnings from various audits and reports dating back to 2011, indicating that GHS OCD management was aware of these compliance issues. The lack of consistent leadership and a qualified fiscal management team has been cited as a contributing factor to the ongoing mismanagement risks.

The audit also noted that GHS OCD is at risk of losing its federal funding, as FEMA has identified multiple areas of noncompliance in its reviews. The agency's inability to address these issues has led FEMA to freeze reimbursements, raising concerns about the federal government's willingness to continue funding GHS OCD.

In light of these findings, the OPA made two key recommendations: first, to engage with the legislature to explore the possibility of direct local funding for GHS OCD, and second, to address the identified compliance issues urgently to mitigate the risk of losing federal funding.

The implications of these findings are significant, as they not only affect the operational capabilities of GHS OCD but also place a financial burden on the taxpayers of Guam. The urgency of the situation calls for immediate action to ensure that GHS OCD can fulfill its critical mission of protecting the island from various emergencies.