Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Satia Aokuso Satia, the former Budget Acting Director, has rescinded the Budget Office's call to decrease the budget for the Judiciary, after Chief Justice Lealaialoa Michael Kruse wrote a letter to the Budget Office reminding it of the separation of powers between the branches of government (ASG) after Judiciary received the FY 2026 Budget Call Memo.

The call memo, dated May 15, 2025, declared ASG’s revenue projections for the upcoming fiscal year 2026 are reduced by 23% — stating a ceiling of $135 million compared to the previous year's budget of $165.9 million, and called for a reduction across the board by ASG departments to meet it.

Judiciary’s stipulated fiscal year ceiling, according to the call memo, was $3.29 million. 

The CJ’s response to Satia about the call memo was immediate.

“Please be advised that the Judiciary's budget is, as it has always been in the past, dictated by its operational capacity needs. It is then up to the Fono to determine the Judiciary's allocation, not the Budget Office,” The Chief Justice wrote. 

“The High Court, like the Fono, is not a government department amenable to executive influence, just as the Judiciary has no influence on the executive branch's ongoing fiscal challenges. 

“Therefore, please be advised that if you change or finalize my numbers for Fono review, as page two of your memo suggests, you do so at your own peril,” CJ Lealaialoa concluded.

In a letter dated May 27, 2025, the then Acting Director responded to the Chief Justice, clarifying that the budget adjustments were not intended to infringe upon the constitutional independence of the Judiciary or the appropriation authority of the Legislature.

“Please allow me to clarify that the budget ceiling communicated was intended as a planning reference point to ensure early coordination and consistency across all government entities as we navigate ongoing fiscal constraints. 

“It was never meant to infringe upon the constitutional independence of the Judiciary or the appropriation authority of the Legislature. We fully respect the Judiciary's autonomy and its critical role in our system of governance,” Satia stated.

“Any reference to adjustments or finalization by the Budget Office in the memo was not directed at the Judiciary and will be revised for clarity in future communications. 

“We remain committed to maintaining a constructive and respectful working relationship between the branches of government and will continue to support a transparent and independent budget process for the Judiciary,” he concluded.

This latest correspondence was sent to Governor Pulaali'i N. Pula, President of the Senate Tuaolo M. Fruean, Speaker of the House Savali T. Ale, and High Court Administrator Enele Seumanutafa.