significant increase in the number of federal agencies involved in programs and decision-making affecting the territories and (2) a shift in the role of the Department of the Interior froma direct administrative authority to a posture of providing assistance, limited oversight, and attempting to advocate territorial views. This trend toward a more decentralized, reactive approach has met with partial approval by some territorial offiCials who believe the federal government should no longer be directly involved in territorial administration. However, these two events have also generated some criticism from the territories concerning overall federal effectiveness in meeting territorial needs. Territorial governments have increasingly used federal programs to facilitate their economic and social development. This has decentralized the U.S. government's role in the territories and further complicated the practical aspects of single agency management. According to a Department of Commerce publication, at least 15 agencies provided direct financial assistance to the formed to study U.S. territory policy identified this Ye steel ra aa Aha grants were provided to the insular governments in that same year. About $2.1 billion, or 84 percent, went to Puerto Rico. The many federal agencies involved in formulating and implementing policies and programs for the territories, have made it difficult for the government to coordinate economic and social development activities. A 1979 interagency task force éah2 U.S. territories and the Trust Territory in fiscal year 1983. Statistics compiled by Commerce show that about $2.5 billion in lack of coordination as a significant organizational deficiency. The task force indicated that the territories received numerous federal grant programs which were approved unilaterally by individual federal agencies; it concluded that this process was "devoid of any apparent or deliberate policy thrust." Attempts have been made to strengthen the existing federal organization to enhance greater program coordination. The Secretary of the Interior created a Committee of Interagency Territorial Assistance in 1976. It was apparently not completely effective, however, since President Carter's 1980 territorial policy statement called for increased federal program coordination. The President stated that the administration would issue a directive requiring all federal agencies to keep Interior informed of all grant applications and decisions affecting the territories. A proposed executive order to imple- ment this requirement was sent to the Office of Management Budget (OMB) in November 1980 but was not issued. Current efforts and to coordinate programs and policies 5000249: 42 wee AR Federal officials continue to recognize the need_= for improved territorial program and policy coordination. Several