DIMINISHED ROLE
OF INTERIOR RAISES POLICY
AND ORGANIZATION QUESTIONS
The Department of Interior has undergone a significant
shift in responsibilities as the primary federal administrator
of the territories.
Its current role is primarily limited to
budget support, technical assistance, representing territorial
views to the federal establishment, and oversight of government
expenditures and operations.
According to many territory officials, Interior's. overall effectiveness in these areas is limi-
ted by institutional constraints and organizational influence
within the executive branch.
Officials from several territories
believe a change in federal organization is needed.
4
Constraints and perceived
lack of influence
The Office for Territorial and International Affairs (OTIA)
is a small component of the Department of the Interior.
In fiscal year 1984, OTIA was authorized a staff of 66, including 15
under the High Commissioner for the Trust Territory, with a budget of about $4.3 million for administration and technical
assistance.
OTIA will
oversee
the
approximately
j
i
$213 million
requested in fiscal year 1985 for the territories and Trust Territory, less than 3 percent of Interior's overall fiscal year
budget request of $6.5 billion.
Recognizing
the
limited
influence
exerted
by
such
a
small
office, the President directed that the head of OTIA be elevated
to Assistant Secretary level
officials have
in
1980.
criticized OTIA as
Nevertheless,
institutionally
territorial
incapable
of
.
3
§
‘
meeting its stated mission of providing effective assistance and
promoting
territorial
interests to the rest of
the federal
establishment, particularly in budget and policy related matters.
Budget support
All
the
territories,
except
Puerto
Rico,
have
received
key
institu-
funds for government operations and capital improvements through
Interior grants.
As noted in chapter 5, these funds combined
with other indirect federal assistance, such as tax rebates to
Guam and the Virgin Islands, comprise the substantial portion of
revenues available to the local governments.
According
to
several
territory
officials,
a
tional constraint is OTIA's inability to fully support territo-
rial
budget
requests.
Faced
with
administration’ budget
objectives
and
internal
budget
competition within
Interior,
OTIA is often placed in a difficult position of trying to support higher territorial budget requests than the administration
44
9000231
|