The 38th Guam Legislature convened on August 16, 2025, for a budget session focused on the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The meeting featured a significant discussion regarding the funding for the Guam Department of Education (GDOE), highlighting concerns over anticipated budget cuts and the need for additional financial support.

The session began with a motion to overrule the chair, proposed by a senator who expressed strong concerns about the current budget allocations for GDOE. The senator emphasized that the department had indicated a potential $50 million in cuts, describing the existing budget as "disastrous." The senator urged colleagues to consider amending the budget to allocate $4.5 million from the fiscal year 2025 net unobligated excess revenues to support GDOE, arguing that previous budget cycles had successfully utilized excess revenues for essential services.

The senator articulated the importance of showing support for public schools and students, stressing that cuts could affect critical positions, substitute teachers, and funding for operational costs such as power bills. The senator's appeal was framed as a call to action for the legislature to prioritize education funding in light of the challenges faced by GDOE.

As discussions progressed, the senator reiterated the need for collaboration and support from fellow legislators, suggesting that the body should extend the same consideration to education as it has to other sectors, such as the business community. The senator concluded by reaffirming the importance of addressing the needs of GDOE to prevent detrimental impacts on the education system.

The meeting underscored the ongoing challenges in balancing the budget while addressing the critical needs of public education in Guam. Further deliberations and decisions regarding the budget are expected in subsequent sessions.