Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Tribal leaders warn hiring and funding pauses are destabilizing federal programs serving Indian country
Summary
Witnesses at three days of House Appropriations hearings told lawmakers last week that recent administration hiring freezes, terminations and temporary funding holds have disrupted delivery of health, education, natural‑resource and public‑safety services that the federal government provides to tribal nations under treaty and trust obligations.
Chairman Mike Simpson convened a three‑day hearing this week for tribal leaders and Indian‑country organizations to describe how recent federal personnel and funding actions have affected programs serving American Indians and Alaska Natives. "This year, we had an unprecedented number of requests requiring us to expand to a third day to accommodate nearly 100 tribes and tribal organizations," Simpson said as the committee opened the final day.
Tribal witnesses told the panel that personnel actions and temporary holds on funds have already interfered with core services and created uncertainty for programs the federal government is legally required to provide. Krista Williams, acting chair of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and treasurer of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Sovereignty Protection Fund, said the actions place "Indian country and our legal and political relationships with The United States"…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
