The U.S. insular areas of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and three Freely Associated States (the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands), face serious economic and fiscal challenges and rely on federal funding to deliver critical services. These insular areas, some of which are under U.S. sovereignty, and some of which are independent nations, rely on federal funding to support their local governments and deliver critical services. This book provides an overview of current issues and challenges facing U.S. insular areas today.