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Pohnpei Legislature overrides Governor’s line-item vetoes of FY2027 budget
Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press
October 19, 2026 Pohnpei — The Pohnpei State Legislature has overridden all of Governor Stevenson Joseph’s line-item vetoes of the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget, restoring appropriations for the Legislature, Judiciary, and Office of the Public Auditor that the Governor had attempted to remove.
The Legislature confirmed the overrides to The Kaselehlie Press. The action restores the appropriations affected by the vetoes to the Comprehensive Budget Act, State Law No. 11L-139-26, which Governor Joseph signed into law earlier this month.
Governor Joseph signed Legislative Bill No. 400-26, L.D.1, exercising line-item veto authority over increases the Legislature had added to the Executive Branch’s original budget proposal.
According to an October 7 press release from the Pohnpei Governor’s Office, the Governor vetoed additional appropriations for the Pohnpei Supreme Court, Pohnpei State Legislature, and Pohnpei State Public Auditor.
The Governor’s Office said those increases had not been included in the administration’s original budget submission and that the vetoes would return the affected amounts to the state’s unassigned fund balance.
Joseph made exceptions for funding intended to support traditional leaders, known as Mwoalen Wahu, and the “All For Us” conference in Chuuk.
The Governor’s decision followed a prolonged budget process that continued into the final hours of the state’s fiscal year.
According to the Governor’s Office, the Executive Branch submitted its proposed FY2027 budget in February, but the Legislature did not return the approved measure until approximately 10 p.m. on September 30, just two hours before the beginning of the new fiscal year.
The delay created uncertainty over continued funding for government operations.
Before the Legislature completed its budget deliberations, Acting Governor Herolyn S. Movick submitted a proposed continuing resolution and an emergency statement intended to prevent interruptions in government services.
The Governor’s Office said the Legislature did not endorse those measures before passing the budget.
Governor Joseph subsequently signed the budget while objecting to certain legislative changes, including the elimination of personnel positions in the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office.