The trend in federal involvement in the territories is marked by (1) a significant increase in the number of federal agencies involved in programs and territories making and (2) a decisions shift affecting the in the traditional role of Interior from direct territorial admin- istrative authority to limited oversight, ter- ritory advocate, and assistance provider. Territory officials are generally satisfied with the current decentralized administration provided by approach to individual program federal ' agencies and indicated that good working rela- tionships have been established with most agencies. However, they believe better federal policy coordination is needed to systematically address development needs -when formulating individual agency policies. Many territory institutional officials capacity of also criticize the the Department of Interior to .meet their needs. For example, they believe Interior does not have sufficient influence to represent them in the budget process or in policy matters involving other federal agencies. Within Interior, there is some disagreement on its role vis-a-vis the territories in terms of federal oversight, program and policy coordination, and territory advocacy. (See pp. Several federal 44 to 49.) proposals have organizational territories. centralized, The been made to responsibility options interagency range from change for organization a the more to a decentralized approach with no single federal agency responsible, as currently exists for Puerto Rico. No clear consensus exists in the territories on what approach is best suited to their needs.. Many territorial leaders see no need to make major changes in the current federal approach in administering programs, However, many sSupport the concept of a high-level interagency group to handle policy-related matters and address major territorial concerns. The territories agreed that the federal government should be more responsive to their needs, regardless of the organization arrangement. In GAO's view, responsibility 5000202 a for change in territorial vi organizational affairs might