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