AGP Executive Report

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: A sweeping multistate deal has Meta agreeing to pay up to about $17.1B and overhaul Instagram and Facebook for teens, including a combined two-hour daily limit, “productive pauses,” overnight blocks, tighter age checks, reduced school-time notifications, and limits on harmful content and features; American Samoa is listed among the participating territories. Local Fiscal Move: The American Samoa Government has suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, top leadership travel, and grant-funded trips. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is asking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with eligibility tied to FAFSA. Regional Fisheries Policy: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17 to consider options for amending the American Samoa large vessel prohibited area around Rose Atoll. Tourism Snapshot (Hawaii): July 2026 visitor spending in Hawaii rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) even as average length of stay fell to 7.59 days.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1B in a multistate consumer protection deal and overhaul Instagram/Facebook for teens, including default daily time limits, “productive pauses,” overnight blocks, school-hour notification limits, stronger age checks, and tighter controls on harmful content; American Samoa is listed among participating territories. Local Government Finance: American Samoa suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026 (through Sept. 30), with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, Governor/Lt. Governor travel, and grant-funded trips. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is seeking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with jobs tied to students’ fields and funded through federal resources. Regional Fisheries: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17 to consider options for amending American Samoa’s large vessel prohibited area around Rose Atoll. Tourism Update (Hawaii): July 2026 visitor spending rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), though average length of stay fell to 7.59 days (-14.1%). Pacific Diplomacy: Pacific Islands Forum leaders meet in Palau Aug. 30–Sept. 4, with leaders pushing for more control over security and ocean resources amid US-China competition.

Meta Youth-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1B (and as much as $18B in some reports) and overhaul Facebook/Instagram for teens, including a default two-hour daily limit, “productive pauses,” a midnight-to-6 a.m. curfew without parental consent, reduced school-hour notifications, tighter age checks, and limits on harmful content and teen-facing features like like counts. American Samoa in the Deal: American Samoa is listed among the jurisdictions joining the settlement, which also requires compliance monitoring and court approval. Local Budget Watch: American Samoa suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, the Governor/Lieutenant Governor, and grant-funded trips. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is asking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with jobs tied to students’ fields and funded through federal resources. Fisheries Governance: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17 to consider options for amending the large vessel prohibited area around Rose Atoll, as implementation details for a proclamation lifting some commercial fishing prohibitions are still pending. Tourism Snapshot (Hawai‘i): July visitor spending in Hawai‘i rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), though average length of stay fell to 7.59 days (-14.1%).

Meta Settlement for Youth Safety: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1B (and as much as $18B in some reports) and overhaul Facebook/Instagram teen settings, including a default two-hour daily limit, midnight-to-6 a.m. access blocks without parental consent, “productive pauses,” reduced school-hour notifications, stronger age checks, and tighter controls on harmful content and certain beauty filters; American Samoa is listed among participating jurisdictions. Local Budget Watch: American Samoa suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY2026 to manage rising expenses, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, top officials, and grant-funded trips. Tourism Numbers: Hawaii reported July 2026 visitor spending of $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), but a shorter average stay (7.59 days). Regional Fisheries Policy: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17 to consider options to amend American Samoa’s large vessel prohibited area around Rose Atoll. Work-Study Push: American Samoa Community College is seeking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students. Pacific Islands Forum: Leaders will gather in Palau Aug. 30–Sept. 4 to discuss building economies amid major-power competition, with American Samoa and Guam as associate members.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1B in a multistate deal and overhaul how Facebook and Instagram work for teens, including a default combined two-hour daily limit, midnight-to-6 a.m. access blocks without parental consent, fewer school-hour notifications, “productive pauses” after continuous use, stronger age checks, and tighter controls on harmful content. The settlement also includes American Samoa among the participating jurisdictions. Local Fiscal Moves: American Samoa suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, top officials, and grant-funded trips. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is asking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with eligibility tied to FAFSA and jobs paid through federal funds. Regional Fisheries: The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15–17 to consider options for amending the large vessel prohibited area affecting commercial fishing near Rose Atoll. Tourism Snapshot (Hawai‘i): July visitor spending rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) even as average length of stay fell, signaling higher per-day spend but shorter trips.

Big Tech Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and overhaul child-safety rules for Facebook and Instagram in a landmark multistate deal tied to claims of teen social media addiction and misleading parents. Youth Safety Rules: For ages 13–17, Meta must impose a combined 2-hour daily limit, add “productive pauses,” block access midnight–6 a.m. without parental consent, silence most school-hour notifications (8 a.m.–3 p.m.), strengthen age checks, hide like counts by default, and restrict harmful content and certain filters; an independent auditor will monitor compliance. American Samoa in the Mix: The settlement includes American Samoa among participating jurisdictions, meaning the territory is part of the broader youth-protection and funding framework. Local Fiscal Move: The American Samoa Government suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, the Governor/Lieutenant Governor, and grant-funded travel. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is seeking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with eligibility tied to FAFSA. Tourism Update (Hawaii): July 2026 visitor spending in Hawaii rose to $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), though average length of stay fell to 7.59 days (-14.1%). Pacific Policy: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau reiterated U.S. commitment to the Pacific ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Summit, emphasizing security, investment, disaster resilience, and trade.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to a landmark multistate deal worth up to about $17.1B (as high as ~$18B reported) to settle claims that Instagram and Facebook were built to be addictive and harmed minors, with states including American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands as plaintiffs; the terms require default daily time limits (two hours across the two apps), “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks, reduced school-hour notifications, stronger age checks, and tighter controls on harmful content and features. Territory Impact: American Samoa is explicitly named among the jurisdictions in the settlement, meaning the new youth-safety rules could affect how teens access and use Meta platforms locally. Local Fiscal Move: The American Samoa Government suspended all government-funded local travel for the rest of FY 2026, with limited exceptions for court-appointed travel, travel by the Governor/Lieutenant Governor, and grant-funded trips. Workforce & Education: American Samoa Community College is asking local businesses and worksites to host Federal Work-Study students, with positions tied to students’ fields and eligibility starting with FAFSA. Regional Economy: Hawaii reported July 2026 visitor spending of $1.99B (+1.7%) with 883,248 visitors (+1.1%), though average length of stay fell to 7.59 days (-14.1%). Fishing Policy Watch: The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council will meet Sept. 15-17 to consider options to amend the large vessel prohibited area affecting commercial fishing around Rose Atoll.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta has agreed to pay up to about $18 billion over the next decade and overhaul how Instagram and Facebook work for minors, ending a major U.S. trial brought by states including American Samoa. The deal requires default daily time limits (a combined two hours across both apps), mandatory “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks (generally midnight to 6 a.m. unless a parent lifts limits), and school-hour notification silencing. It also calls for stronger age assurance, tighter age-appropriate content controls (including limits on certain harmful beauty filters), and expanded parental controls plus an independent auditor to track compliance. Territory Impact: The settlement’s inclusion of American Samoa means local families could see new platform restrictions and safety features as implementation rolls out over months, with payments distributed through the multistate framework. US Policy Watch: Separately, coverage notes Congress is juggling must-pass funding items that could affect ASG and territory priorities, including potential delays tied to federal spending timelines.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta (Facebook/Instagram) agreed to pay up to about $17–$18 billion over 10 years and roll out sweeping teen protections after a landmark multistate case, including default two-hour daily limits, overnight blocks (midnight–6 a.m.), school-day push-notification limits, stronger age-assurance, tighter parent controls, and restrictions on harmful content and features like cosmetic filters and public like counts; the deal covers 47 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and could grow if other platforms (notably TikTok/YouTube/Snap) adopt similar terms. Local Governance & Funding: Congress is back to work on must-pass bills with government shutdown risk and ASG funding still in play, including a reported $1 million boost for ASG and $1 million for Pago Pago Port improvements tied to the House Interior package, while other negotiations (defense and farm bill items affecting ASNAP) remain politically tangled. Sports Business: The NFL ended the Pro Bowl game format, starting in 2026 with an 88-player roster focused on recognition rather than an AFC vs. NFC matchup, a shift that could affect how fans and sponsors engage with the league’s all-star brand. Pacific Economy & Environment: The U.S. deep-sea mining push is intensifying after an executive-order path for licenses in Pacific territories, with American Samoa mentioned in plans for a nearby auction, as island leaders and regional governments debate the economic upside versus environmental and governance risks.

Big Tech Accountability: Meta (Facebook/Instagram) agreed to a multistate settlement worth up to about $17.1B (reported as up to $18B) over claims it used addictive design to harm teens and misled the public; the deal is subject to federal judge approval and covers 47 states plus D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Youth Safety Rules: Meta must roll out sweeping default safeguards for ages 13–17, including a combined two-hour daily limit across Instagram and Facebook with “productive pauses,” overnight blocks from midnight to 6 a.m., reduced school-day notifications, stronger age verification, and tighter content controls. Payments to States/Territories: Washington is set for at least $237M (up to nearly $339M); Wisconsin up to $313M; Kansas over $134M; Nevada up to about $256M; Virginia at least $353M; Tennessee $700M-plus (total about $751.9M); New Jersey at least $525M (up to $752M); South Carolina $247M; Alabama over $117M; Michigan at least $171M; Utah $212M expected (up to $301M); South Dakota minimum $52.6M (up to $73.5M); Hawaii up to $76M; West Virginia up to about $114.6M; North Carolina up to $645M. Industry “Match” Incentive: About $5.3B of the total is conditioned on TikTok and YouTube adopting similar one-hour/day and related default protections, with states receiving the remaining portion only if those platforms sign on.

Deep-Sea Mining Legal Fight: Fa’asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, via Earthjustice, sued to stop the first U.S. deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa, arguing NOAA/NMFS failed proper Endangered Species Act review; the sale is slated for Nov. 19. Local Governance & Compliance: The Governor signed an executive order adopting the FDA Model Food Code as the official retail food safety reference, with enforcement starting in four months after outreach to restaurants, markets, and vendors. Education Funding Assurance: After testimony raised concerns that the DOE FY2027 budget lacked sports-event money, the Education Department said all school athletics will continue as scheduled, citing coordination on the athletics budget. Cost of Living: Samoa’s latest inflation update shows transport driving prices up, with diesel up 51.6% and petrol up 37% over the year—hitting fuel-dependent households and businesses. Elections: The Chief Election Officer officially set the 2026 Midterm Election for Nov. 3, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with candidate paperwork due Sept. 1. Business Continuity: After a fire destroyed the Manu’a Store in Tafuna, about half the staff returned to work at the remaining Malaeimi and Pago Pago branches, with more placements pending.

Deep-Sea Mining Legal Fight (American Samoa): Fa’asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, backed by Earthjustice, sued the Trump administration to block the first commercial deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa, arguing NOAA/NMFS wrongly found mining “not likely to adversely affect” endangered species under the Endangered Species Act; the challenge targets the Nov. 19 sale and comes as the process faces mounting public backlash. Deep-Sea Mining Pushback (Marianas/Guam): U.S. territories are also objecting to a separate Trump-era plan to auction deep-sea mining leases off the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, with leaders warning regulators are moving faster than science and that Guam lacks a formal comment role. Seafloor Data vs Public Access: NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer sent robots to map American Samoa’s seafloor Aug. 24, but a key concern is that commercial leasing decisions and bidding are scheduled before the dive data is publicly archived. Food Safety Regulation: Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula issued an executive order making the FDA Model Food Code the official retail food safety reference for American Samoa, with enforcement starting after a four-month outreach and training period for local businesses. Local Economy/Cost of Living: Samoa’s latest inflation report points to transport costs driving prices up, led by sharp fuel increases (diesel +51.6%, petrol +37%), squeezing households and businesses alike. Sports Funding Idea: Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. proposed a $2 monthly paycheck deduction from government employees to fund Department of Education sports programs. Business Continuity (Manu‘a Store): After a Manu‘a Store fire, about half the staff are back at work via rotations across remaining branches while the insurer and fire division investigate the cause. Elections: The Chief Election Officer officially set American Samoa’s 2026 midterm election for Nov. 3, with candidate paperwork due Sept. 1.

Fuel and inflation squeeze: Samoa’s latest inflation figures show prices up 3.1% year-on-year in July, with transport driving most of the jump as diesel rose 51.6% and petrol 37%, pushing up costs for families, bus/taxi operators, and businesses moving goods. Deep-sea mining push sparks legal fight: Earthjustice, with Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, sued the U.S. government to stop the first American Samoa seabed lease sale, arguing the National Marine Fisheries Service wrongly found mining “not likely to adversely affect” endangered species. Territory politics and ocean concerns: American Samoa’s Democratic Party praised faith leaders for urging caution on deep-sea mining, while leaders in the Marianas and Guam criticized the federal process as too fast and too limited for local input. Food safety update for local businesses: Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula signed an executive order making the FDA Model Food Code the official retail food safety reference, with enforcement starting after a four-month outreach and training period. Sports funding proposal: Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. floated a $2 monthly paycheck deduction from government employees to fund Department of Education sports programs. Customs capacity-building: Oceania Customs Organization training focused on strengthening American Samoa Customs’ post-clearance audit capability to protect revenue and support compliant trade. Local economy and jobs after fire: Manu‘a Store owner says about half the staff from the burned Tafuna store are now working at remaining branches in Malaeimi and Pago Pago, with reduced hours while placement continues. Upcoming election logistics: Chief Election Officer Dr. Lealofi Uiagalelei officially set the 2026 Midterm Election for Nov. 3, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and reminded candidates of the Sept. 1 filing deadline.

Deep-Sea Mining Push (American Samoa): Environmental groups, including Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa, sued the U.S. government to stop the first-ever deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa, arguing regulators wrongly concluded mining “is not likely to adversely affect” endangered species and that required reviews were inadequate. Deep-Sea Mining Push (CNMI): The Trump administration also advanced a proposed lease sale off the Northern Mariana Islands, setting Dec. 16 for a sale covering about 67 million acres—prompting Guam officials to complain they’re shut out of the comment process and warning regulators are moving faster than science. Local Economy & Jobs: After a fire destroyed the Manu‘a Store in Tafuna, about half the staff returned to work at the remaining branches in Malaeimi and Pago Pago, with reduced hours while the company investigates and weighs rebuilding. Education Funding Idea: Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. proposed a $2 monthly paycheck deduction from government employees to fund Department of Education sports programs. Customs & Trade Capacity: American Samoa Customs took part in Oceania Customs Organization training to strengthen post-clearance audits, aiming to protect revenue and improve trader compliance. Ocean Mapping for Commerce: NOAA announced two deepwater expeditions around American Samoa to map and characterize the seafloor, generating public data to support future exploration and decision-making. Sports Media Business: The NFL criticized Nielsen’s upcoming TV ratings methodology changes, saying the rushed shift could hurt sports viewership measurement.

Deep-Sea Mining Push: The Trump administration has advanced a proposed auction of deep-sea mining leases off the Northern Mariana Islands, covering about 67 million acres, and Pacific territories are pushing back over rushed timelines and unclear risks to marine life and local economies. American Samoa Legal Challenge: In parallel, Fa‘asao Amerika Samoa and the Conservation Council for Hawai‘i—via Earthjustice—filed suit to stop the first U.S. lease sale off American Samoa, arguing federal regulators didn’t properly assess impacts under the Endangered Species Act. Local Governance & Review: American Samoa Governor Pulaali’i Nikolao Pula has a 60-day window to review and comment on the proposed terms, while local leaders and groups continue to call for more study before any mining moves forward. NOAA Mapping for Minerals: NOAA says two expeditions around American Samoa this summer and fall will map deep seafloor areas to support future decisions on offshore critical minerals. Education Funding Idea: Acting Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. proposed a $2 monthly paycheck deduction from government employees to fund sports programs under the Department of Education. Customs Capacity: Oceania Customs Organization training is building American Samoa Customs’ post-clearance audit capability to protect revenue and improve trader compliance. Manu‘a Store Recovery: After a fire destroyed the Manu‘a Store, about half the staff are now working at remaining branches while management plans next steps for rebuilding. Elections: The Chief Election Officer officially set American Samoa’s 2026 midterm election for Nov. 3, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Deep-Sea Mining Fight: Environmental groups, including Faʻasao Amerika Samoa, sued the U.S. government to stop the first deep-sea mining lease sale off American Samoa, arguing regulators wrongly found mining “not likely to adversely affect” endangered species and failed to do proper review ahead of a Nov. 19 auction. NOAA Mapping for Minerals: NOAA Ocean Exploration and partners announced two deepwater expeditions around American Samoa (Aug–Sep and late Sep–Oct) to map and characterize the seafloor, with publicly available data meant to guide future exploration and decisions. Local Education Funding: Acting Gov. Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. proposed a $2 monthly paycheck deduction from government employees to fund sports programs under the Department of Education. Customs Capacity Building: Oceania Customs Organization training began to strengthen American Samoa Customs’ post-clearance audit capability, aiming to protect revenue and support compliant trade. Manu‘a Store Recovery: After last week’s Manu‘a Store fire, about half the staff are back to work on reduced hours across the remaining Malaeimi and Pago Pago branches while investigations continue. Elections Update: The Chief Election Officer officially set the 2026 Midterm Election for Nov. 3, with candidate paperwork due Sept. 1.