Officials from the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA), the Puerto Rico Department of Education, and the Puerto Rico Public Housing Administration outlined what they described as key accomplishments during the first 100 days of Governor Jenniffer González-Colón’s administration, focusing primarily on the use of federal funds and outreach to United States agencies.
In a joint briefing, PRFAA Executive Director Gabriella Boffelli, Puerto Rico Secretary of Education Eliezer Ramos, and Public Housing Administrator Juan Rosario Hernández emphasized efforts to strengthen relationships with federal partners and secure resources for issues including security, education, energy, and housing.
Since taking office in January, Governor González-Colón has prioritized direct engagement with the White House, Congress, and federal agencies. According to PRFAA, these efforts have helped elevate Puerto Rico’s visibility in federal policymaking. The administration says it has focused on positioning the territory as a strategic partner to the US government, though how much this has translated into concrete changes remains to be seen.
One of the legislative developments cited by the administration is the reintroduction of the Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act, a bill aimed at requiring the Office of National Drug Control Policy to craft a dedicated strategy to address drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The measure, originally introduced by González Colón during her time in Congress, now has bipartisan sponsorship but has not yet been passed into law.
Additionally, the administration pointed to the 2025 Coast Guard Authorization Act, recently passed by the US Senate, which includes provisions requiring monthly reporting on drug and migrant interdictions and a review of maritime surveillance gaps around Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The law, while broad in scope, incorporates recommendations from Puerto Rican officials, though its implementation and impact are still pending.
On economic policy, González Colón signed Executive Order 2025-012 aimed at reviving Puerto Rico’s manufacturing sector. The order highlights existing infrastructure, labor force quality, and geographic location as assets. The administration also supports a bipartisan bill to extend the rum tax cover-over program through 2032, which could increase the island’s share of federal excise tax revenues from rum sales—an important source of funding for local infrastructure and economic development.
In February, PRFAA representatives met with the new director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, with the goal of streamlining communications on federal matters. “Our goal has been to position Puerto Rico as a strategic partner,” said Boffelli, adding that the administration is focused on collaboration and accountability in managing federal funds.
The administration has also continued to promote Puerto Rico’s statehood ambitions. A Statehood and Equality Summit held on March 3 reportedly drew more than 200 attendees. The event was intended to showcase support for statehood, referencing previous plebiscites where a majority voted in favor, though critics have pointed out ongoing disputes over turnout and ballot design in those votes.
Energy infrastructure also featured prominently in the administration’s first 100 days. PRFAA says the US Department of Energy sent a technical team to the island to assess efforts to stabilize the power grid. Meanwhile, EPA Region 2 Administrator Michael Martucci visited Puerto Rico and reportedly expressed support for speeding up permitting for energy infrastructure projects. Concrete outcomes from these visits have not yet been detailed.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem also met with the Governor during a recent visit. According to the administration, the meeting focused on FEMA funding and interagency coordination for emergency preparedness and infrastructure.
In the education sector, Secretary Eliezer Ramos traveled to Washington to meet with congressional staff and Department of Education officials. He met with the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, staff from Representative Frederica Wilson (D) of Florida’s office, and newly appointed US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Discussions reportedly centered on improving fund disbursement processes and promoting bilingual education initiatives.
“We are optimistic about tackling the challenges of managing federal funds,” Ramos said, noting the importance of PRFAA’s role in maintaining communication with the federal government.
On housing, Puerto Rico Secretary of Housing Ciary Pérez met with lawmakers including Representative Ritchie Torres (D) of New York, as well as national housing organizations, to advocate for more flexibility in disaster recovery and affordable housing programs. Pérez said recent meetings in Washington helped secure regulatory exemptions and sped up environmental reviews for CDBG-DR and CDBG-MIT projects—key funding sources for post-disaster rebuilding and mitigation.
Despite the flurry of announcements, many of the administration’s initiatives are in early stages or pending further federal action, amidst the tumultuous start of the Trump administration. Whether these early efforts will yield lasting results is likely to depend on ongoing negotiations with Washington and the ability to turn commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground despite the ongoing uncertainty.
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