FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 31, 2025
Hagåtña, Guam — Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio took swift action to make sure that food continues to reach the tables of more than 18,000 Guam households during the federal government shutdown.
Last week, the Governor called a special session of the 38th Guam Legislature and sent emergency legislation to authorize local funding for food assistance should federal support be interrupted. Senators came together to pass the Governor’s bill, and the Governor signed it into law as soon as she received it. Their work has made sure that families who rely on food assistance do not face a gap in benefits.
The General Food Assistance Benefit, also known as GFAB, is Guam’s locally funded response that offsets the temporary suspension of federal SNAP support in November. The first portion of GFAB will be loaded onto EBT cards on November 1st, which is the regular staggered SNAP release schedule, and local resources remain ready to carry families throughout the month if needed.
“This is why protecting our revenue base is so important to me,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “When challenges arise, the only thing we can count on is one another. The strength of our community depends on the choices we make long before any storm approaches.”
The Governor encourages families to continue planning wisely, looking out for neighbors, and supporting one another as Guam moves forward with care and resilience through this period of federal uncertainty.
“Guam’s ability to respond with our own resources shows the strength of our fiscal discipline and our deep commitment to caring for one another,” said Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio. “By acting quickly and responsibly, we ensured that no family goes hungry in November because of circumstances beyond our island’s control, because we know that behind every benefit card is a parent making sure their children have a meal and a sense of stability.”
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