In brief
The ongoing government shutdown is causing significant concern among Native American tribes, as funding for crucial services under historical treaties becomes jeopardized. While tribes with independent revenue sources may endure temporarily, many others are already facing employee furloughs and service closures. Tribal leaders fear that the shutdown could lead to layoffs of federal workers responsible for honoring treaty obligations, exacerbating existing challenges.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Native Americans are watching the shuttered government with apprehension, bracing for damage to essential services like health care and education that were guaranteed under treaties signed over a century ago. As the impasse in Washington deepens, many tribes are confronted with the possibility of staffing cuts and service interruptions.
Tribal nations that operate casinos, oil, and gas leases may weather the storm longer than those that rely heavily on federal funding. Already, some tribes have initiated furloughs.
Leaders of tribal nations have voiced concerns that the current administration might exploit the shutdown to reduce the workforce of federal employees tasked with upholding treaty commitments. The U.S. has historically recognized its responsibility to safeguard the health, education, and security of tribal citizens in exchange for ceding their lands.
Shuttered Museums and Services for Native Children
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in Nevada has laid off approximately 25 employees and closed its museum, cultural center, and educational services for Native children in public schools, expressing hope that these measures will only be temporary. Chairman Steven Wadsworth has indicated that further closures might follow if the stalemate persists.
As the government shutdown extends, members of the tribe are worried about the operations of various departments. “These furloughs are necessary to ensure the continued operation of public safety, such as the police, EMS, and the food bank,” Wadsworth stated in a letter to tribal members.
Impending Layoffs?
Countless individuals within Indian Country are on edge, fearing that this shutdown will lead to extensive layoffs among federal workers responsible for securing treaty rights. Liz Carr, vice president for intergovernmental relations for the Cedar Rock Alliance, voiced her anxiety, adding that the administration could undermine existing programs.
Recently, President Donald Trump and his former adviser have urged the General Services Administration to terminate various federal office leases, affecting numerous Bureau of Indian Affairs offices crucial for tribal consultation and operational support.
During her tenure under the Biden administration as the first tribal adviser to the Office of Management and Budget, Carr experienced a lack of understanding around trust and treaty responsibilities, which she believes contributes to the uncertainty surrounding tribal needs.
Tribes often rely on Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) regional offices for necessary approvals on projects ranging from road construction to law enforcement funding, and the closure of such offices jeopardizes these critical interactions.
Trust and Project Consultation Impacts
Although the Indian Health Service remains operational, hundreds of health centers operated by tribal nations, dependent on federal funding, face grim prospects. Departments that assist tribes with major funding initiatives have already ceased operations, placing further strain on essential services.
The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers has called upon the federal government to halt any projects, especially those involving natural resource development, until adequate consultation with tribes can occur again.
Dr. Valerie Grussing, executive director of the association, emphasized that federal regulations mandate consultations with tribes on impactful projects, which cannot proceed in the absence of a fully staffed workforce.