[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6310786,"mediaKeyId","2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb","parentId",2398308,"title","Tribes seek control of land and energy approvals and urge Congress to restore agency staffing for oversight","audioSeconds",1352,"startMs",1176000,"endMs",2528000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb&start=1176&end=2528","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb/thumbnail_1176000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6310786/Tribes-seek-control-of-land-and-energy-approvals-and-urge-Congress-to-restore-agency-staffing-for-oversight","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310786-7d70ee7d916996b27a495369f9e7b84f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147972&Signature=O0psS6rhUcVv0ze~zYgcoRGX08IyByPYd6Mz4syAQvo3eAFZ4IBeedu~tC-AKxK35GR6N8-O0XU3CkmgdVw~QGSFgp44h5qMKXMSHh2OxcepsLb0PT4kSXRyqNh4JyUAz-2wwygKY0yZ2QRzpuA~C80jv7INYjVbvt0sk9j5Zk6Nzlfa5PVdsLsz3QcqRKZwLAarVY75DgjCS~U9qTVfN6gl7wbGkQ-yQ4YqRTP0oVCTImbP5spMhr57XDIYytRFOXypdq3zO9W0nIa~ZaxTOry4~k~VcLnBu3pTdtjKLP7Qz3jAS5UluN9-Ib2a8e3EkJanw-6CzZwhhvEeSzVE6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Appropriations","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple witnesses at the House appropriations hearing urged congressional and agency action to speed land‑into‑trust transfers, approve tribal energy development agreements and maintain federal agency capacity for oversight of energy and reclamation projects.

Chief Allan and Michael Natchez stressed the link between agency staffing and tribal economic development. Chief Allan described land buybacks and timber purchases the Coeur d'Alene Tribe has pursued and said federal delays—appraisals and BIA backlog—slow reclamation and land‑into‑trust work. Michael Natchez asked the subcommittee to \"direct the BIA to use FY26 appropriated money to turn over control of our Ute Indian energy development leases, business development agreements and related documents to our tribal government under a federally approved tribal energy development agreement,\" saying approval would strengthen oversight and save taxpayer dollars.

Stephen Ordewela (Bishop Paiute) endorsed targeted transfers of marginal federal lands to tribes for stewardship and wildfire mitigation, and asked Congress to continue funding water‑settlement work in the Owens Valley.

Witnesses said agency personnel at BIA, BLM and ONRR are needed for approvals and environmental review. Witnesses asked the committee to clarify that tribal trust responsibilities are exempt from broad agency hiring and funding cuts and to fund federal employees needed to carry out approvals while also building tribal capacity to manage lands and resources.

Ending: Members said the committee would continue to press agencies on staffing and highlighted bipartisan support for tribal stewardship initiatives and energy oversight where tribes request local control.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day 1, Morning Session","oneSentenceSummary","Tribal witnesses urged Congress to support timely land‑into‑trust transfers, approval of tribal energy development agreements and continued federal staffing at BIA, BLM and ONRR so tribes can manage resources and protect treaty assets.","taxTitle","Appropriations: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1832,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6310791,"Choctaw and other tribal leaders ask Congress to boost BIE, JOM and early‑education funding and support language programs",6982,1644000,8626000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb&start=1644&end=8626","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb/thumbnail_1644000.jpg","/articles/6310791/Choctaw-and-other-tribal-leaders-ask-Congress-to-boost-BIE-JOM-and-earlyeducation-funding-and-support-language-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310791-3d98c428f8d0859bfc7d369614fc919e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147972&Signature=G1dcZR5-Q2iVy9-5IxX-G0Os55bfvxHAjDTMtV3fS3mCUJaHZf~m6NPZ~dWve0sriSEcD1Qd4Zjmub2eMTN8Ebfi1PTfNwcGgZ8dzHHP1Fd6C~5idJQEFh8qMw3nFDKrwKWUzfoKnlt7nlic97XyH92plOIwYRh7ArIMYLj89qaW34LWX~S02oK1qbBJxcjJxfGVUNW7bCQrw0nsfqX2MVMLolrXi35gVmXl0x5jxTyGS8EEdOX7HFlG-6Q6ijgJLegc8LaoeTZYltezHkWrdsKsOtKqqt81zjQ6U6Zg5zjNt9CArQa0X3Nac7VVzezCbppO06elmgfYKoj9ZuZbkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several witnesses used the hearing to press for larger federal investments in tribal education, preservation of native languages and BIE school construction.

Stacy Shepherd, executive officer of member services for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, said the Choctaw Nation is the third‑largest federally recognized tribe and has prioritized education as a tool for empowerment. Shepherd told the subcommittee the tribe's Head Start and Jones Academy (a Bureau of Indian Education residential school) receive federal funds that the tribe substantially supplements, and reported that \"for 2 consecutive years, 90 percent of the Jones Academy graduating seniors have enrolled in college, trade school, or military with a 70 percent continuation rate.\"

Shepherd urged continued funding for Johnson O'Malley (JOM), vocational rehabilitation and BIE schools, citing inflation and a need for increased per‑pupil dollars. Kathleen (Red Hill Woman) described BIE disparities, citing a two‑year flat funding pattern that leaves Indian student funding far below state per‑pupil levels (witness cited BIE funding around $6,910 per pupil vs. state averages around $16,080 and Department of Defense schools at $25,000 per student) and noting a multi‑billion backlog in school construction and operations reported to Congress.

Several members and witnesses praised tribal language programs. Chairman Simpson and other members singled out the Choctaw Nation's language school and apprenticeship work as a model of tribal reinvestment and cross‑district public partnerships: Shepherd said the Choctaw language program reaches hundreds of public schools and reported at least 1,100 students have taken Choctaw courses.

Witnesses asked the subcommittee to protect tribal education funding during appropriations and to consider advanced appropriations or mandatory treatment for some line items to ensure continuity of services.

Ending: Members said they will continue to review BIE funding levels and school backlog reports and urged tribes to provide more written documentation of needed costs to help shape FY26 funding requests.","Witnesses described tribal investments in language and early‑childhood programs and asked the House subcommittee to increase Bureau of Indian Education and Johnson O'Malley funding, citing inadequate per‑pupil amounts and school facility backlogs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6310796,"Tribal leaders say law enforcement underfunding leaves reservations dangerously understaffed",8097,577000,8674000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb&start=577&end=8674","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb/thumbnail_577000.jpg","/articles/6310796/Tribal-leaders-say-law-enforcement-underfunding-leaves-reservations-dangerously-understaffed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310796-5a6e479b6f3e6ee377cbc305f6fdff54/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147972&Signature=bRxieQ5YAyneo0LIxy5y-1SVQWnZxFuZma-mIimaEJe4I-r6fPLTiCvIu1zZMpvmyWFdrSVscGfDD0FC9q9xIzjN33q9105pHfYBwZm94y7k6iLJQmqB13MXZXbS7l5oxhYRoCQSU30zlTpU020CJtJh-7AVr00IKzaUOie5Co9nKFpVOlq-zIOgfGZebk8dhFLLF02lr-eRijX~j3TFBrJwzHsczhYE7hNiO-DvaaNwKsyBFZRemIbajdaR8dUTj-z-W9928GyCrocL5aocfVk9ygWgVjpnw2i0IjQINB3rM2dMrxn56aO1wI2vhYbj8mTDuX~8qE-ZVA-GCkEJMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tribal leaders from the Fort Hall Reservation to Standing Rock and Lac du Flambeau told the House Appropriations subcommittee that chronic underfunding of Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement and detention operations has created public‑safety crises on many reservations.

Donna Thompson of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes said her reservation should have 25 officers under BIA guidelines but currently has nine, \"which means that only 1 or 2 officers patrol our 550,000 acre reservation covering 4 counties at any given time.\" She cited a BIA report that identified over $1.7 billion in law‑enforcement needs while the BIA is funded at roughly $256 million.

Standing Rock Chairwoman Janet Alkire said her tribe has only seven patrol officers on a land base \"the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined,\" frequently leaving communities without timely response and noting that the tribe's 60‑year‑old detention center and hospital are functionally obsolete. She told the committee the subcommittee should \"increase BIA law enforcement budget by 3 to 5 times\" and create a second BIA Police Academy in the Great Plains to build regional capacity.

John Johnson Sr., president of the Lac du Flambeau Band, urged Congress to pass the Law Enforcement Parity funding proposal that would address pay disparities and retirement parity for tribal officers to improve retention.

Other witnesses described operational consequences: long 911 response times on very large reservations (Kirk Francis said answering a 911 call could take an hour), officers working without backup or adequate equipment, and tribes forced to transfer detainees off‑reservation because BIA detention capacity is insufficient. Michael Natchez said Ute tribal members are often held in county jails while the BIA pays rental bed space, increasing costs and reducing tribal control over detention and release decisions.

Members asked for data and urged agencies to propose targeted remedies. Witnesses proposed a mix of short‑term and structural actions: emergency increases to BIA policing lines, expansion of tribal hiring and training pipelines (new regional police academy), passage of parity legislation, and longer‑term proposals to move mandatory program elements out of discretionary budget lines.

Ending: Witnesses said the lack of policing capacity is a cross‑cutting problem that worsens health, education and economic outcomes; the subcommittee signaled willingness to press for funding increases but warned that final appropriations depend on larger budget negotiations.","Across multiple tribal witnesses, leaders told the appropriations panel that BIA law enforcement funding is far below need, leaving many reservations with single‑officer shifts and forcing tribes to subsidize policing and detention.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6310800,"House appropriations hearing: tribal leaders warn hiring freezes and staff losses are disrupting services",7315,344000,7659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb&start=344&end=7659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2398308-987ba4963e0946f4639f273b854a85fb/thumbnail_344000.jpg","/articles/6310800/House-appropriations-hearing-tribal-leaders-warn-hiring-freezes-and-staff-losses-are-disrupting-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6310800-3e97c51341b3a82b60451dc5df1934e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147972&Signature=hBENjsTh3~mrw8ryJpibXhYpjQi6sSnOkPhSPKiGkkh6IQvAbJDZS2-SDhMCSvK~IivEng2K0wcIewcJzNT3wf8v18uB3bweme1ApUWLF2Ska0vtihvPLJjNuJIWEi8SwtlBWw-c4nMs19~SvcU0u0A-pr2B1VETnl4UXniu4w1xmv3b-5Q2u8gmzDnYWPPoR1zCMtmgxodJVJwxeqf38j~fqpyq1C91bsneeAK4w1wV5Bk8n42iXAKN1IzPUFixe2qr65hEK2J76DLcTe0ljaH71T4uKIb6ugGISwWOe8HnRfMBJU7mfMcuFxJzQD3kwcwOS226FvSK3QrHg8p-dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Appropriations subcommittee on Interior and Environment held the first of three days of public witness hearings on programs for American Indians and Alaska Natives, where tribal leaders described immediate operational harm from recent federal hiring freezes and personnel terminations.

Tribal witnesses said the changes have delayed access to funds, slowed land-into-trust transactions and imperiled health, public safety and education services that tribes rely on. Donna Thompson, vice chair of the Fort Hall Business Council of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, told the panel she is \"greatly concerned for the funding for tribes is at risk and that the federal government's ability to fulfill the treaty and trust responsibilities will be hindered by current hiring restrictions and the ongoing firing of federal employees.\" She urged Congress to act to \"ensure there are no disruptions to tribal program funding and to protect the federal workers supporting Indian country.\"

Ranking Member Chellie Pingree echoed those concerns, saying the administration's early actions have \"unleashed chaos and disruption into indigenous communities and created anxiety and uncertainty for tribal members over their employment status, the continuation of critical health care and educational services\" and urged witnesses to \"sound the alarm.\" Chairman Mike Simpson and other members also told witnesses they were monitoring agency actions closely and urged agencies to prioritize Indian country services.

Multiple tribal leaders provided examples of how staff losses or paused grant portals have immediate consequences. Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, described federal workforce reductions as a practical obstacle to completing land-into-trust transfers and other time-sensitive federal approvals. Michael Natchez, Uinta band representative, said his tribe recently lost seven of eight agency staff who had been assisting approvals and asked the committee to \"ensure that those federal employees at the BIA, the BLM, and ONRR stay in place and are fully funded.\" Kirk Francis, chief of the Penobscot Nation, described weeks-long delays accessing the tribe's own trust funds after changes began.

Witnesses said the problem is not academic: clinics, sanitation projects, public-safety contracts and school construction depend on timely reviews and approvals. Stacy Shepherd of the Choctaw Nation described extensive tribal investments in education and health programs that would be jeopardized by funding interruptions. Several witnesses urged the committee to make tribal program funding mandatory rather than discretionary and to continue advanced appropriations for Indian Health Service (IHS).

Members asked agencies for updates. Chairman Simpson said his office had confirmed that annual discretionary interior appropriations for IHS and Indian Affairs had been unfrozen, while noting some Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds remained paused and the agencies were working to unfreeze them. He and others said they had been told the IHS layoff offer was rescinded and that none of the terminated Interior personnel identified for removal were law enforcement staff, though members and witnesses warned of continued retention risks if experienced employees accept deferred resignations or retirements.

The hearing illustrated widespread, cross‑regional concern: speakers represented reservations and tribal governments from Idaho, Oklahoma, Utah, Maine, Wisconsin, South Dakota, California and Texas. Witnesses repeatedly asked for clearer White House and agency guidance exempting treaty- and trust-related budgets and staffing actions from broad hiring freezes and for congressional language to protect already-awarded grants from being paused.

Members of the subcommittee and visiting colleagues — including House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole — said the committee has a bipartisan history working on Indian programs and that members would press agencies to minimize disruptions, though several warned that congressional appropriations alone cannot solve administrative implementation problems.

Tribal leaders closed by urging immediate, stabilizing steps: restore or protect agency points of contact, keep grant portals open for awarded funds, and prioritize federal staffing that supports tribal law enforcement, health care and land‑transfer processing. As Donna Thompson put it, the panel was asked to \"ensure there are no disruptions to tribal program funding and to protect the federal workers supporting Indian country.\" Ending: committee members said they would continue oversight and pressed agencies to provide updates on which funds remained paused and on the staffing picture across relevant offices.","Witnesses at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing urged Congress to shield Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Service and other tribal programs from administration hiring freezes and personnel cuts, saying lost federal staff and paused grants are already delaying services across Indian country.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Tribes seek control of land and energy approvals and urge Congress to restore agency staffing for oversight

Choctaw and other tribal leaders ask Congress to boost BIE, JOM and early‑education funding and support language programs

Tribal leaders say law enforcement underfunding leaves reservations dangerously understaffed

House appropriations hearing: tribal leaders warn hiring freezes and staff losses are disrupting services