“I am proud of the work accomplished alongside the COR3 team and of the progress achieved for Puerto Rico.” With those words, Eduardo Soria broke his silence Friday morning after the governor confirmed his resignation as executive director of the Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience (COR3).
Soria, who will remain in the post until June 30, highlighted what he described as historic advances in Puerto Rico’s reconstruction efforts during his 18‑month tenure. In written remarks, he noted that 15,631 reconstruction projects are currently in progress, representing approximately $17.9 billion in investment, while another 5,863 projects have already been completed.
He also pointed to a major administrative milestone: nearly $4 billion in expenses validated in 2025, surpassing the $3.2 billion validated the previous year. “This process ensures that disbursed funds are used appropriately and translate into projects that strengthen Puerto Rico’s recovery and reconstruction,” he said.
Soria expressed gratitude to Gov. Jenniffer González Colón for the trust placed in him, and to the municipalities, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and construction sector professionals who collaborated with COR3. “The reconstruction of our Island will continue advancing thanks to the commitment of public servants and all those who form part of this historic effort,” he added.
La Fortaleza later released additional details, confirming that Soria informed the governor in April that a family health matter made it impossible for him to continue dedicating the time the position demands.
“Those of us who are parents have a responsibility to our children that surpasses everything,” Soria wrote in a May 30 letter to the governor, adding that he extended his stay through June 30 to ensure “an orderly, responsible and effective transition.”
Gov. González Colón thanked him for “putting federal reconstruction funds to work,” noting that more than 71% of reconstruction projects are now underway or completed, and that COR3 has strengthened technical assistance and training for subrecipients.
With Soria’s departure, the governor appointed two officials to maintain continuity. María Marín Colón, currently Interim Director and Chief Infrastructure and Operations Officer, will serve as interim executive director of COR3 and General Arturo Garffer will become the new Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a federally required role tied to disaster‑recovery programs. Soria has been transitioning responsibilities to Garffer over the past month.
The resignation drew immediate criticism from Popular Democratic Party (PPD) Senate spokesperson Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, who argued that the leadership shake‑up reflects instability within the González Colón administration.
“This new shake‑up in the government exposes the deterioration of the administration,” Hernández Ortiz said. “If there is no coherence and organization at COR3, reconstruction will be delayed even more, and the threat of losing federal funds remains real.”
He also pointed to data released in February showing that more than 70% of HUD disaster‑recovery and mitigation funds remained undisbursed.
La Fortaleza has not yet indicated when a permanent director will be named.
