USVI Will Be Okay Under Trump Administration, an Optimistic Bryan Says

Governor Albert Bryan Jr., preparing for a trip to Washington, expresses confidence in navigating a Republican-led federal government, focusing on securing Medicaid cap removal, rum cover tax extension, and aligning with Puerto Rico for shared benefits.

During Monday's press briefing from Government House, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. disclosed that he would soon travel to the mainland to engage in a series of meetings, as the federal government undergoes its transition to a new administration. “I've been fielding a lot of calls and texts lately about many of you worrying about the results of the election and how the Virgin Islands is going to fare with a Republican House, Senate and a Republican [President],” he noted, explaining the purpose of the trip.

The conversations he expects to have with these government officials are “critical, because they ensure that the federal government remains a strong partner for us,” Governor Bryan said. “We need them to transform our territory and improve the quality of life for our Virgin Islanders,” he continued. A longstanding issue for the territory has been the permanent extension of rum cover over tax remittances, an issue that Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett was initially confident could have been done before the end of 2022. The inability of the 118th Congress to agree on a bipartisan tax bill placed the initiative into indefinite limbo. However now, with one party control over Congress, Governor Bryan is optimistic.