NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Tribal leaders across the U.S. are reacting to news that President Trump and Elon Musk want to shut down over 25 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) offices. These offices provide essential services to Indigenous communities, and their closure is raising alarms.
The General Services Administration (GSA) is being asked to end leases on around 7,500 federal offices, including the BIA offices that assist tribes with important tasks like approving road projects and funding for law enforcement. Mark Macarro, president of the National Congress of the American Indian, called this a “destabilizing action” and expressed serious concerns about the negative impact on tribal rights.
Many treaties between the U.S. and tribal nations outline specific rights, including land and healthcare. The U.S. has a legal and moral duty to uphold these rights, known as trust responsibilities. Cuts to BIA funding, which already represents a tiny portion of the federal budget, could further jeopardize these obligations.
Jacqueline De León, an attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, notes that the government must consult with tribal nations regarding decisions that affect them. She emphasized that moving forward with BIA cuts without proper consultation is rare and likely illegal.
Recent events have raised eyebrows, such as the rescinding of plans to lay off nearly 1,000 Indian Health Service employees just hours after they were notified. Additionally, Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly have raised concerns about the potential closure of the BIA’s regional office in Phoenix. They worry it would limit access to critical services for numerous tribes.
Tribes often struggle with underfunded and understaffed federal departments. Martin Harvier, president of the Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community, explained how such closures could delay crucial approvals for families seeking to build homes or manage estates. “Everything is interconnected,” he said, highlighting the ripple effect of these decisions.
Harvier remarked that staff at the Phoenix office told him its impending closure was likely a mistake, but uncertainty remains high among tribal leaders. “We’re just concerned about what comes next,” he added. The future for many tribal nations hangs in the balance as they await further information on these proposed changes.
Check out this related article: “Border Residents in Washington State Express Discontent Over Trump’s Tariff Decisions: Hear Their Stories” | Globalnews.ca
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