Congress Funds the Federal Government through September
The House of Representatives and the Senate passed recently passed a continuing resolution to extend current federal government funding levels until Sept. 30. Here are two ways that it will impact Native communities:
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The continuing resolution is not as specific as congressional appropriations usually are. Normally, Congress identifies individual programs to be funded. In this resolution, Congress has only specified that broader accounts are funded.
For example, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is given a lump sum of money identical to the total sum of individual programs from Fiscal Year 2024, rather than Congress specifying funding for individual programs. The administration will be able to determine how that money will be spent, including what programs will receive funding. -
The resolution contains funding adjustments for several Indian programs. First it extends the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which addresses high rates of diabetes and diabetes-related complications in Native communities.
Increases in funding were also included for several newly opened Indian Health Service facilities to ensure that these hospitals have the funding they need to care for tribal members.
Reconciliation, Cuts May Stress Tribal Programs
In February, the House of Representatives and Senate began a special budget process called “reconciliation.” This process may harm tens of millions of people, including tribal members. Reconciliation must relate directly to the budget, which can include spending and taxation levels. The House proposal cuts up to $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and $880 billion from Medicaid (health care for low-income people).
As cuts to these programs may reduce eligibility or restrict services, tribal programs and federal programs that serve tribal members will see an increase in demand, including the Indian Health Service, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). While the House proposal is unlikely to pass in its current form, Republican leadership is currently working on cuts that can pass.
Department of Defense Removes Webpages Celebrating Code Talkers
As part of the Trump administration’s anti-DEI executive order, the Department of Defense deleted webpages about Code Talkers. These Native soldiers used Native languages to communicate coded messages during World War I and II. Over 20 tribes were involved in these efforts, including the Navajo Nation. The Pentagon’s press secretary originally defended the removal. After a public outcry, the Pentagon said that they were removed in error and restored some webpages.
Confusion Reigns over Cuts to National Monuments
Native communities are waiting clarification over reports that the Trump administration is terminating the status of two newly designated national monuments in California. Early this year, Biden created the Chuckwalla National Monument, which contains sacred lands of several tribal nations, and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, which has sacred and ancestral lands of the Pit River Nation.
A fact sheet released by the White House on March 14 appeared to signal the Trump administration’s intent to remove the national monument designation, but it was later edited to remove references to them. While presidents can designate national monuments, their authority to downsize or remove them is legally suspect. Some affected Native communities and environmental groups have promised to sue.
