Congressional subcommittees press BIA, experts on tech, staffing and data gaps in MMIP crisis

At a joint hearing of the House Natural Resources subcommittees on Indian and Insular Affairs and on Oversight and Investigations, members and witnesses laid out competing needs for technology deployment, staffing and stronger tribal partnerships to address the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis.

The hearing opened with Chairman Hurd emphasizing Congress’s trust responsibility to tribal nations and asking, “How can we better use technology innovation and coordination to help address this crisis?” Charles Addington, the principal director of Justice Services and Law Enforcement for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior, told the panel that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has established a dedicated missing-and-murdered unit, cold-case offices and is using DNA technologies and “AI-assisted analytical tools” to prioritize leads and support investigations.

Why it matters: Witnesses and lawmakers agreed the tools exist to identify remains and generate investigative leads, but many tribal leaders and family members said the federal response is uneven because of staffing shortfalls, funding disruptions and jurisdictional confusion that leave cases stalled. “We need accurate data right now,” Abigail Echo Hawk, executive vice president of the Urban Indian Health Institute, told the panel, citing longstanding misclassification and missing race markers that undercount Indigenous victims.

Addington described administrative steps intended to improve operations. He said Secretarial Order 3450 launched an Indian Country Violent Crime Task Force to coordinate federal, state and tribal resources and that the department is refocusing the MMU to respond more quickly to missing-person reports and to fund tribal officers to be part of task forces. He told members the BIA has placed missing-and-murdered agents in regional offices and is deploying resources such as underwater drones and ground-penetrating radar to support investigations.

Tribal leaders and advocates pressed for implementation and accountability. O. J. Siemens, senior executive director of the Coalition of Large Tribes, urged written escalation protocols, federal contact points for families and transparent metrics so tribes and families can evaluate stalled investigations. Dr. Grace Bulltail, a Not Invisible Act commissioner and family member, described asking the MMU for a half‑hour phone call for 10 months with no response and called for reinstating the Not Invisible Act Commission’s report and actions.

Experts from the private sector also outlined how forensics and data can move cases. David Middleman, chief executive of Othram, said forensic DNA and AI tools can identify unknown remains and generate leads for cold cases, and that the main barrier is deployment and awareness rather than scientific capability. “There are hundreds to thousands of cases that are surfaced, they’re ready to go, and they’re sitting on a desk,” he said, urging better access to tools for tribal and local agencies.

Points of contention and concern: Members sought clarity about staff vacancies, publication of required tribal law and order reports, and proposed agency reorganizations. Representative Stansbury and others warned the administration’s budget proposals would reduce BIA and DOJ grant funding, which witnesses and service providers said has led to delayed disbursements and program instability. Echo Hawk said a survey of 201 organizations found more than 60% were substantially affected by funding cuts or delays.

Operational priorities identified: witnesses and members emphasized (1) improving first-response evidence collection during the critical initial hours after a disappearance, (2) ensuring tribal data sovereignty and meaningful tribal consultation when sharing data or deploying analytic tools, (3) funding and staffing the MMU and tribal law enforcement, (4) expanding use of forensic genetic genealogy and DNA sequencing in programs such as Operation Spirit Return, and (5) creating clear escalation and family‑communication protocols across DOJ, FBI and BIA.

What’s next: Committee leaders said members may submit follow-up questions and documents; the record was held open for additional written responses and documents. Representative Randall asked that a report from the Urban Indian Health Institute be entered into the record without objection. The committee directed staff to collect written responses from witnesses by a July 17, 2026 deadline and adjourned the hearing.

Sources: Remarks and testimony from Chairman Hurd; Charles Addington (Principal Director, Justice Services and Law Enforcement, BIA); O. J. Siemens (Coalition for Large Tribes); Abigail Echo Hawk (Urban Indian Health Institute); Dr. Grace Bulltail (Not Invisible Act Commissioner, family member); David Middleman (Othram); and members of the House Natural Resources subcommittees. All quotes and facts are taken from witness statements and member exchange during the hearing.