In brief
As the U.S. government shutdown continues, Native American tribes are bracing for significant impacts on their health care, education, and infrastructure services. Tribes reliant on federal funding face furloughs and operational limitations, while concerns rise over potential layoffs of federal workers whose jobs are pivotal in upholding treaty rights. The situation threatens programs that have been crucial for tribal nations, affecting their ability to serve communities effectively. The Indian Health Service remains funded, but numerous tribal-managed health centers face uncertainties, prompting calls for the federal government to ensure proper consultation and support for tribal entities.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Native Americans watch the shuttered government, bracing for damage to health care, education, infrastructure, and other services funded by Washington under treaties struck over a century ago.
Tribal nations with casinos and independent revenue sources expect to sustain operations for several months, while those dependent on government funding are already furloughing workers.
Many tribal leaders fear that the shutdown could lead to layoffs of federal workers whose responsibilities include ensuring that trust and treaty obligations are met. The U.S. government agreed many decades ago to protect the security, health, and education of tribal citizens in exchange for ceding their lands.
Shuttered Museums and Children's Services
The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, just outside Reno, Nevada, furloughed at least 25 employees starting October 1, and closed its museum and cultural center, higher education department, and services for Native children in public schools. They indicated these closures would be temporary, but more could follow if the shutdown extends. Chairman Steven Wadsworth noted that furloughs are necessary for the continued operation of critical services like police, EMS, and food banks.
Layoffs Coming?
Concerns persist across Indian Country about possible layoffs of federal workers who uphold treaty agreements. Liz Carr, vice president for intergovernmental relations for the Cedar Rock Alliance, voiced her worry regarding the administration's decisions that could endanger treaty rights. She stated that her previous role as a tribal adviser to the Office of Management and Budget remains unfilled, reflecting a concerning lack of understanding of treaty responsibilities.
Tribal bureaucracies face closures and operational limitations as important regional offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs have shut down. Although federal employees protecting life and property are exempt from the shutdown, many are set to work without pay, impacting essential law enforcement functions.
Damaged Trust
The Indian Health Service, which provides health care to Native Americans, remains operational, yet hundreds of tribal-owned health centers that depend on federal funding confront an uncertain future. Agencies crucial for tribal support, such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Highway Administration, are already closed. The National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers stresses the need to halt projects that require consultation with tribes for their wellbeing.
“Projects should only resume when agencies are fully staffed and tribes have someone to consult with,” said Dr. Valerie Grussing, the association’s executive director.
