Events

Indian Affairs Workforce Efficiency and Productivity – EO 14210

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Dear Tribal Leader Letter

As we navigate the complexities of our nation’s fiscal realities, President Trump and his Administration are working to enhance government efficiency while upholding trust and treaty obligations across Indian Country. Our objective is to streamline operations while minimizing any potential impact on the quality of services provided to Tribes. To that end, Indian Affairs -which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs seeks to engage directly with federally recognized Tribes to receive formal input on critical needs as we develop plans to implement operational improvements. Indian Affairs and other agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) remain committed to fulfilling our responsibilities efficiently and effectively.

On February 11, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) 14210 establishing the “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative, which aims to reform the Federal workforce to maximize efficiency and productivity. Under this directive, each agency is required to develop an Agency Reorganization Plan. In support of this effort, the Department is committed to receiving formal consultation feedback from Tribes regarding the EO and related topics.

NIHB Town Hall: Tribal Leader Townhall on HHS Reorganization.

April 15, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) invites all Tribal Leaders to a Tribal-only townhall discussion on the recently proposed reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), April 15 at 2 PM EDT. The proposed reorganization of HHS, combined with a considerable reduction in force, would substantially impact Tribes, therefore requiring meaningful Tribal Consultation. The departmental restructuring will mean significant changes to Tribal Affairs Offices across HHS, Tribal Advisory Committees, Tribal set-aside funds, and staffing for Tribal-serving programs. Some impacted agencies and operational divisions identified include:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA)

Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA)

Administration for Community Living (ACL)

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

National Institutes of Health (NIH), and

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

During this townhall discussion, Tribal Leaders will have the opportunity to discuss how the reorganization will impact their Tribal communities. This event is Tribal-only.

This meeting is off the record and is closed to media.

If you have questions, please email federalrelations@nihb.org

NAIHC Legislative & Advocacy Strategy Planning Session on NAHASDA & CDFI Fund

Monday, April 7 at 1:30-3:00 PM Eastern in Washington, DC

Please join the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) for a crucial legislative and advocacy strategy session regarding the Native American Housing and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA), protection of the Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Fund, and the status of the Administration’s housing policies.

This important planning discussion will be facilitated by NAIHC Vice Chair Jackie Pata and will take place at NAIHC’s headquarters.

Your participation and insights regarding reauthorization of NAHASDA, protecting Native CDFI funding, and Tribal involvement with the DOI/HUD Joint Task Force are vital to the success of our efforts and strategies moving forward. If you are unable to attend, please feel free to delegate this invitation to a representative from your organization and we will be sure to provide a summary of the conversation.

For any questions, please reach out to NAIHC Federal Affairs Associate Blythe McWhirter at bmcwhirter@naihc.net.

NICWA Webinar: Unpacking the Impact: How Executive Orders and Directives Affect Native Children and Families

March 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern 

As the new Administration nears two months in office, over 80 executive orders and directives have been issued, while Congress continues to move forward with budget reconciliation and appropriations work. In February, NICWA hosted a webinar to engage constituents and partners in an overview of the new Administration and Congress, and to begin strategizing support for tribal and urban Native human service programs and the Native children and families they serve daily. NICWA is excited to continue this conversation in March with a webinar that takes an in-depth look at executive orders with the greatest potential impact on tribal and urban Native human service programs. While most of these orders and directives do not specifically target tribal nations, the challenge lies in understanding how these policies will affect Native children and families, given their broad scope and language. This webinar will engage participants in the following ways:

1. Explore a series of executive orders and delve into their high-level impacts.

2. Gain insights about how tribes and urban Native organizations have been impacted thus far, based on community feedback.

3. Participate in dialogue with attendees to share observations from your community and exchange strategies for effectively supporting the needs of Native children and families.

This webinar is open to all who work to support Native children and families.

Executive Order Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families

Session 2: Friday, March 14 at 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM Eastern

Session 1: Friday, March 14 at 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

On January 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) to expand educational freedom and opportunity for families. The EO Section 7 directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) within 90 days to review any available mechanisms under which families of students eligible to attend Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools may use their Federal funding for educational options of their choice, including private, faith-based, or public charter schools. EO Section 7 also directs the Secretary to submit a plan to the President describing such mechanisms and the steps necessary to implement them for the 2025-26 school year.

To meet the deadline set by the President in the EO, BIE is expediting the formal Tribal consultation process to provide Tribes and critical Indian education stakeholders the meaningful and timely opportunity to review and comment on the EO, generally, and possible authorities available to the BIE. Rather than the usual 30-day notification period, BIE is providing a two week, 14-day notification period that still provides the necessary announcement for meaningful engagement while addressing the timeline set forth in the EO.

Consultation will be conducted to seek input from Tribes and stakeholders on the EO and related topics including:

• Any available mechanisms that could provide families of eligible students use of Federal funding for educational options of their choice including how any such mechanisms will be funded;
• To the extent that there exist any such mechanisms to implement in the 2025-26 school year, the eligibility criteria for students in the plan referenced in the EO;
• Educational options near existing BIE-funded schools that could provide potentially eligible students local flexibility to attend a non-BIE school, such as private, faith-based, or public charter schools.

Emergency Strategy Session – Protect Our Cultural Heritage from Section 106 Rollbacks

March 25, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern 

Cultural Heritage Partners is convening an emergency strategy session to:

• Assess the legal and political avenues for challenging federal actions
• Coordinate a broad coalition of preservationists, Tribes, legal experts, and advocates
• Develop a swift and effective response to protect Section 106 and the communities it serves

We need your voice, your expertise, and your commitment. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment and affects us all—regardless of party lines or political affiliation. Allowing this executive overreach to stand will have far-reaching, devastating consequences for our nation’s historic and cultural resources. Join us to help formulate the legal and advocacy response. Together, we can fight back and stop this unprecedented attack on our shared heritage.

Tribal Financial Contingency Plans & Reduced Funding Impact Reports Workshop Series

February 20 at 2:00 PM Eastern: Tribal Financial Contingency Plans – Proactive & Active Steps in Crises

February 21 at 2:00 PM Eastern: Tribal Funding Impact Reports – Preparing Your Messaging with Data 

NAFOA and Native Advisory are co-hosting a two-part webinar series to actively and timely prepare Tribes for the recent federal funding freeze and the related reviews of all federal spending by the Trump Administration.

Examining the Potential Impacts of the Administration’s Executive Orders and Directives on Native Children and Families

February 18 at 1:00 PM Eastern

Join NICWA for a timely webinar providing summary information on a series of executive orders and directives that have the most potential impact on tribal and urban Native human service programs, those potential impacts, and strategies for addressing concerns. The webinar will provide opportunities to share information in the chat and ask presenters questions.