Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Conservation and community groups, including Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit to block the Trump administration’s plan to kickstart deep-sea mining off the coasts of the CNMI and Guam, challenging NMFS’s finding that the lease sale won’t harm endangered species and critical habitat; Local Policy & Revenue: CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds is also pushing for a 50% revenue cut for Pacific territories from seabed mining leases, arguing communities near the activity should share in benefits; ASG Finance Oversight: American Samoa’s Senate Government Operations Committee is holding hearings tied to the $10 million ARPA interest investment, including questions about whether the money was handled without Fono authority and whether the first return installment has been received; ARPA Investment Details: Testimony says ASG’s $10 million in ARPA interest earnings was invested in a UAE pension fund via an agreement involving McKinley Investments and Beech Tree, with a draft plan that previously contemplated a Singapore company to manage airport financing; Retirement Fund Watch: The American Samoa Government Employees Retirement Fund Members Association discussed the retirement system’s financial condition, including about $28 million owed in employer/employee contributions and a proposed cut in the employer contribution rate that would need a long-term repayment plan; Travel Costs: DOD updated per diem rates for Guam (and also applies to the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa), raising meals and incidentals, which could affect local hospitality demand from federal travelers.