Title 48Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73

§1681 Continuance of civil government for Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; assistance programs; maximum fiscal year costs; reimbursement

Title 48 › Chapter CHAPTER 14— - TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS › § 1681

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Until Congress changes things, the President decides who has the powers needed to run the civil government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The President can pick the people and agencies and tell them how to use executive, legislative, and judicial authority for that government. If the Secretary of the Interior asks, federal agencies can give the Trust Territory programs or scientific, technical, or other help — even if the Territory would normally be ineligible — if it helps the Territory. Help may be given with or without payback. The Secretary may not ask for nonreimbursable help costing more than $150,000 in any one fiscal year. Any costs for programs given this way must be repaid from funds set aside for the Trust Territory under section 2 of this Act, as amended. This does not cover financial help given through grant-in-aid programs.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1681

Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Until Congress shall further provide for the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, all executive, legislative, and judicial authority necessary for the civil administration of the Trust Territory shall continue to be vested in such person or persons and shall be exercised in such manner and through such agency or agencies as the President of the United States may direct or authorize.
(b)The head of any department, corporation, or other agency of the executive branch of the Government may, upon the request of the Secretary of the Interior, extend to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, with or without reimbursement, scientific, technical, and other assistance under any program administered by such agency, or extend to the Trust Territory any Federal program administered by such agency, if the assistance or program will promote the welfare of the Trust Territory, notwithstanding any provision of law under which the Trust Territory may otherwise be ineligible for the assistance or program: Provided, That the Secretary of the Interior shall not request assistance pursuant to this subsection that involves, in the aggregate, an estimated nonreimbursable cost in any one fiscal year in excess of $150,000: Provided further, That the cost of any program extended to the Trust Territory under this subsection shall be reimbursable out of appropriations authorized and made for the government of the Trust Territory pursuant to section 2 of this Act, as amended. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to financial assistance under a grant-in-aid program.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 2 of this Act, referred to in subsec. (b), means section 2 of act June 30, 1954, set out as a note below. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 1435 of this title.

Amendments

1964—Pub. L. 88–487 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Notes TransferredFor provisions relating to the Northern Mariana Islands, formerly set out as notes under this section, see chapter 17 (§ 1801 et seq.) of this title. For provisions relating to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, formerly set out as notes under this section, see chapter 18 (§ 1901 et seq.) of this title. Similar ProvisionsSimilar provisions continuing the civil government for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands until
June 30, 1954, were contained in act Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 383, §§ 1, 2, 67 Stat. 494, 495. Authorization of Appropriations Pub. L. 87–541,
July 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 171, provided in part that not more than $15,000,000 be authorized to be appropriated for the fiscal year 1963. section 2 of act
June 30, 1954, as amended
July 19, 1962, Pub. L. 87–541, 76 Stat. 171;
May 10, 1967, Pub. L. 90–16, § 1, 81 Stat. 15; Oct. 21, 1968, Pub. L. 90–617, § 1, 82 Stat. 1213; Dec. 24, 1970, Pub. L. 91–578, 84 Stat. 1559; Sept. 21, 1973, Pub. L. 93–111, § 1, 87 Stat. 354;
May 28, 1975, Pub. L. 94–27, § 1, 89 Stat. 95; Apr. 1, 1976, Pub. L. 94–255, § 1, 90 Stat. 299; Oct. 15, 1977, Pub. L. 95–134, title I, § 101, 91 Stat. 1159; Mar. 12, 1980, Pub. L. 96–205, title I, § 101, 94 Stat. 84; Dec. 24, 1980, Pub. L. 96–597, title IV, § 401, 94 Stat. 3478, provided that: “There are authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1967, for fiscal year 1975, $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1976, $80,000,000; for the period beginning
July 1, 1976, and ending
September 30, 1976, $15,100,000; for fiscal year 1977, $80,000,000; and such amounts as were authorized but not appropriated for fiscal years 1975, 1976, and 1977; for fiscal year 1978, $90,000,000; for fiscal year 1979, $122,700,000; for fiscal year 1980, $112,000,000; for fiscal years after fiscal year 1980, such sums as may be necessary, including, but not limited to, sums needed for completion of the capital improvement program; for a basic communications system; for a feasibility study and

Construction

of a hydroelectric project on Ponape; for expenditure by grant or contract for the installation, operation, and maintenance of communications systems which will provide internal and external communications; and up to but not to exceed $8,000,000 for the

Construction

of such buildings as are required for a four-year college to serve the Micronesian community (no appropriations for the

Construction

of such buildings shall, however, be made (A) until, but not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 1, 1976], the President causes a study to be made by an appropriate authority to determine the educational need and the most suitable educational concept for such a college and transmits such study, together with his recommendations, to the Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States within said one year period and (B) until 90 calendar days after the receipt of such study and recommendations which shall be deemed approved unless specifically disapproved by resolution of either such committee), and $1,800,000 for a human development project in the Marshall Islands plus such sums as are necessary, for each of such fiscal years, or periods, to offset reductions in, or the termination of, Federal grant-in-aid programs or other funds made available to the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands by other Federal agencies, to remain available until expended, to carry out the provisions of this Act [this section] and to provide for a program of necessary capital improvements and public works related to health, education, utilities, highways, transportation facilities, communications, and public buildings: Provided, That except for funds appropriated for the activities of the Peace Corps no funds appropriated by any Act shall be used for administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands except as may be specifically authorized by law.” Inventory and Study of Most Unique and Significant Natural, Historical, etc., Resources of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands Pub. L. 97–357, title II, § 205, Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1708, directed Secretary of the Interior to conduct a comprehensive inventory and study of the most unique and significant natural, historical, cultural and recreational resources of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands with objective of preservation of their values and their careful use and appreciation by the public, along with a determination of their potential for attracting tourism, further provided that such inventory and study was to be conducted in full cooperation and consultation with affected governmental officials and the interested public, and was to identify areas or sites which qualified to be listed on Registry of Natural Landmarks and National Register of Historic Places, and further provided that a full report on such inventory and study was to be transmitted to the respectively involved governments and Congress no later than two complete calendar years after Oct. 19, 1982. Establishment of Permanent Location for Displaced People of Bikini Island; Progress Report to Congress; Contents Pub. L. 95–348, § 2(c), Aug. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 488, directed Secretary of the Interior to prepare and submit to Congress by
July 1, 1979, a progress report on efforts to establish a permanent location for displaced people of Bikini Island. Disaster Relief section 3 of act
June 30, 1954, ch. 423, as added Pub. L. 90–617, § 2, Oct. 21, 1968, 82 Stat. 1213, and amended Pub. L. 91–606, title III, § 301(k), Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1759; Pub. L. 93–288, title VII, § 702(k), formerly title VI, § 602(k),
May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 164, renumbered Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(1), (2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3100; Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 109(w), Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4710, provided that: “There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as the Secretary of the Interior may find necessary, but not to exceed $10,000,000 for any one year, to alleviate suffering and damage resulting from major disasters that occur in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Such sums shall be in addition to those authorized in section 2 of this Act [set out as a note above] and shall not be subject to the limitations imposed by section 2 of this Act. The Secretary of the Interior shall determine whether or not a major disaster has occurred in accordance with the principles and policies of section 102(2) and 401 of the [Robert T. Stafford] Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [42 U.S.C. 5122(2), 5170].” Island Trading Company of MicronesiaAct Aug. 8, 1953, ch. 383, § 3, 67 Stat. 495, provided that notwithstanding the provisions of the Interior Department Appropriation Act, 1953 (Pub. L. 470, ch. 597, 66 Stat. 445), the Island Trading Company of Micronesia not have succession after Dec. 31, 1954. Authorizing Approval of Trusteeship Agreement for the Territory of the Pacific IslandsAct
July 18, 1947, ch. 271, 61 Stat. 397, authorized President to approve, on behalf of the United States, the trusteeship agreement between the United States and the Security Council of the United Nations for the former Japanese mandated islands (to be known as the Territory of the Pacific Islands) which was approved by the Security Council on Apr. 2, 1947.

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 10265 Ex. Ord. No. 10265, eff.
June 29, 1951, 16 F.R. 6419, which related to transfer of administration of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 11021, eff.
May 8, 1962, 27 F.R. 4409, formerly set out below. Executive Order No. 11021 Ex. Ord. No. 11021, eff.
May 7, 1962, 27 F.R. 4409, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 11944, eff. Oct. 25, 1976, 41 F.R. 47215, which related to administration of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, was superseded by Ex. Ord. No. 12569, Oct. 16, 1986, 51 F.R. 37171, set out as a note under section 1901 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1681

Title 48Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73