In final IGIA address as Governor, Bryan seeks path forward with HUD, faster environmental reviews, workforce housing support and continued federal coordination
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr., delivering his final address as Governor before the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Interagency Group on Insular Areas during its 2026 Mid-Year Senior Plenary Meeting, called Wednesday for sustained federal coordination to keep the Virgin Islands’ historic disaster recovery moving while addressing housing, affordability, economic development and other challenges confronting the Territory.
The meeting, held virtually, brought together senior federal officials and the governors of the U.S. territories represented through the IGIA. Participants included U.S. Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Insular, International, and Ocean Affairs William W. Hague; American Samoa Governor Pulaali‘i Nikolao Pula; Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Governor David M. Apatang; and Governor Bryan.
Governor Bryan thanked the Trump administration, the Department of the Interior and federal partners for their engagement with the Virgin Islands, while outlining several areas where he said continued federal action is necessary as the Territory enters the most construction-intensive phase of its recovery.
At the center of the Governor’s remarks was the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s suspension involving the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority. HUD announced the action July 20th, citing concerns about financial management, fraud controls and compliance. Governor Bryan said the Territory recognizes the need for accountability and strong safeguards for federal funding but is seeking a clear process for resolving the suspension without unnecessarily disrupting critical recovery work.
“We take accountability seriously. Federal funds must be protected, financial controls must be sound, and concerns must be addressed,” Governor Bryan said. “But if the objective is to resolve these issues and keep the recovery moving, there has to be real communication, clear expectations and a practical path forward.”
The Governor called for a written corrective-action framework, measurable benchmarks and direct engagement with HUD officials empowered to make decisions. He also asked the Department of the Interior to assist in securing that engagement.
The request comes as the Territory moves deeper into execution of its federally funded recovery portfolio. At a September 21 meeting with the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Virgin Islands reported 12 executed contracts covering 39 projects backed by approximately $13.7 billion in obligated funding. Approximately $12 billion in projects are moving through federal environmental compliance processes, while construction activity is projected to continue increasing through 2028.
Governor Bryan thanked FEMA for its willingness to work with the Territory on environmental reviews and potential workforce housing solutions, which he described as essential to managing the scale of construction ahead.
“The recovery is creating tremendous opportunity, but that activity also creates pressure on housing, labor, materials and the overall cost of living,” Governor Bryan said. “We have to make sure that as we rebuild the Virgin Islands, the people this recovery is meant to serve can still afford to live here.”
The Governor said the Territory is developing a workforce housing plan intended to accommodate the additional workers required for major recovery construction while limiting further pressure on housing available to Virgin Islands residents.
He also thanked Interior for its involvement in discussions surrounding charter fees imposed by the British Virgin Islands, saying predictable and reasonable rules are important to charter captains, crews, marinas and other businesses that depend on the marine industry. Governor Bryan said the Territory respects the BVI’s authority over its waters and supports continued discussions aimed at reaching a workable arrangement.
Governor Bryan additionally renewed his call for a coordinated federal process to evaluate the responsible reopening of refinery operations on St. Croix. He said the refinery presents an opportunity to contribute to domestic refining capacity while restoring skilled employment and economic activity in the Territory, provided any restart includes qualified operators, sufficient investment and modern environmental and safety protections.
The Governor asked Interior and other appropriate federal agencies to help establish clear requirements for a safe and commercially viable restart and determine what federal support, if any, may be available.
As he concluded his final address to the group, Governor Bryan said the next phase of the Territory’s recovery will require the same federal-territorial partnership that helped secure billions of dollars for rebuilding schools, hospitals, utilities and other public infrastructure.
“Our people have waited a long time,” Governor Bryan said. “We have made tremendous progress, but there is still a great deal of work ahead. What we need now is continued partnership and concrete action so we can finish this recovery and deliver the results the people of the Virgin Islands have been waiting for.”
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