Congressional hearing spotlights management, safety and funding failures at Haskell and SIPI

A joint hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development examined longstanding management, safety and funding problems at two federally run tribal postsecondary schools — Haskell Indian Nations University and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI) — and considered possible oversight and legislative responses.

The hearing focused on recent inspector general findings of sexual‑harassment and supervisory failures, accreditation problems and persistent deferred maintenance that, witnesses and members said, have reduced educational capacity and student safety. Committee leaders and the Department of the Interior official testifying pledged further oversight and cooperation with Congress.

Members opened the hearing by stressing the federal government’s duty to tribal nations. Chairman Gosar said, “we have a trust responsibility to our tribal nations that cannot be pushed aside.” That theme framed repeated member concerns about leadership lapses at Haskell and SIPI, from background‑check failures for regents to the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General’s May 5 summary finding that a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) employee harassed members of the Haskell women’s basketball team and that…