In this Memorandum we report on the Trump Administration’s request for FY 2020 appropriations for Indian Affairs (which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and related accounts), as well as a few other selected programs.
Comparing FY 2019 Enacted vs FY 2020 Administration Request. We attach the Administration’s detailed FY 2020 Request budget charts for the BIA and the BIE; however, please note that because FY 2019 Enacted appropriations came so late this year, the FY 2019 amount used in these charts is the annualized Continuing Resolution level which assumes a continuation of the FY 2018 Enacted spending levels, NOT the actual FY 2019 Enacted amount. Throughout this document when we compare the Administration’s FY 2020 Request to FY 2019, we use the true FY 2019 Enacted amounts for comparison. We reported on the FY 2019 Indian Affairs Enacted budget in our General Memorandum 19-007 of April 10, 2019.
When we refer to page numbers in this report, we are referring to the page number of that Bureau’s or Office’s FY 2020 Budget Justification.
INDIAN AFFAIRS (IA) OVERVIEW
For FY 2020 the Trump Administration is requesting $2.7 billion for the Indian Affairs budget, a $291.6 million cut from the FY 2019 Enacted amount of $3 billion.
Department of the Interior Reorganization. The planned Reorganization of the Department of the Interior is underway; however, at the request of many tribes, Indian Affairs will not be part of this Reorganization.
Proposed Structural Changes. Notably in the FY 2020 Indian Affairs budget request, the Administration is proposing to strengthen the BIE as an independent bureau with a separate budget structure from the BIA and to shift the reporting relationship of the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) from the Office of the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs (AS-IA). The OST would continue to be a separate organization reporting to AS-IA, in the same manner as the BIA and BIE do. The proposed organizational chart is attached.
Initiative to Combat Violence in Indian Communities. For FY 2020, the Administration is “launching a new initiative to focus on violence in Indian Country and target significant and rising criminal justice issues plaguing Native American communities, particularly against Native women. This initiative will coordinate a broad group of Federal and Tribal stakeholders across Indian Country to address: unsolved cold cases; escalating reports and improved reporting of missing and murdered persons, domestic violence and crimes in the Violence Against Women Act; human trafficking, and the opioid epidemic.” [p. IA-PSJ-2, IA-PSJ-3]
Public Lands Infrastructure Initiative. For FY 2020, the Administration is once again proposing the creation of a new Public Lands Infrastructure Fund (Fund) to “address repairs and improvements in national parks, national wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools.” Further information about the Administration’s request for regular appropriations for school maintenance and repair is found under the EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION subsection of this report.
OPERATION OF INDIAN PROGRAMS
FY 2018 Enacted $2,411,200,000
FY 2019 Enacted $2,414,577,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $1,462,310,000
Operation of Indian Programs (OIP) budget previously included the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). The FY 2020 amount reflects the Administration’s request to strengthen BIE as an independent bureau.
BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
FY 2018 Enacted $1,496,787,000
FY 2019 Enacted $1,510,020,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $1,462,310,000
Budget activities within the Bureau of Indian Affairs are: Tribal Government; Human Services; Trust-Natural Resources Management; Trust-Real Estate Services; Public Safety and Justice; Community and Economic Development; and Executive Direction and Administrative Services.
TRIBAL GOVERNMENT
FY 2018 Enacted $317,967,000
FY 2019 Enacted $320,973,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $326,013,000
The Tribal Government sub-activities are: Aid to Tribal Government; Consolidated Tribal Government Program; Self-Governance Compacts; New Tribes; Small and Needy Tribes; Road Maintenance; and Tribal Government Program Oversight.
Self-Governance Compacts. The Administration is requesting a $12.6 million increase for this sub-activity which provides resources to new and existing self-governance tribes, enabling them to plan, conduct consolidate, and administer programs, services, functions, and activities for tribal citizens according to priorities established by their tribal governments.
New Tribes. This sub-activity provides $160,000 in Tribal Priority Allocation (TPA) base funding per tribe to support newly federally-recognized tribes. Once a tribe has been acknowledged, it remains in this category for three fiscal years. The Administration is requesting a $160,000 increase to this sub-activity “to fund the Monacan tribe at a level consistent with BIA policy and commensurate with the size of its tribal membership.”
Small and Needy Tribes. This sub-activity provides a minimum base level by which small and needy tribes can run viable tribal governments. Once again, the Administration is requesting that it be zeroed out.
HUMAN SERVICES
FY 2018 Enacted $161,063,000
FY 2019 Enacted $161,416,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $142,950,000
The Human Services sub-activities are: Social Services; Welfare Assistance; Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA); Housing Improvement Program (HIP); Human Services Tribal Design; and Human Services Program Oversight.
Housing Improvement Program. This sub-activity provides funding for housing repairs and renovations of existing homes, construction of modest replacement homes or construction of modest homes for families who do not own a home but have ownership or lease sufficient land suitable for housing. Once again, the Administration is requesting that it be zeroed out.
TRUST–NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
FY 2018 Enacted $204,202,000
FY 2019 Enacted $206,870,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $184,089,000
The Trust–Natural Resources Management sub-activities are: Natural Resources, general; Irrigation Operation and Maintenance; Rights Protection Implementation; Tribal Management/Development Programs; Endangered Species; Tribal Climate Resilience/Cooperative Landscape Conservation; Integrated Resource Information; Agriculture and Range; Forestry; Water Resources; Fish/Wildlife & Parks; and Resource Management Oversight.
Once again, the Administration is requesting cuts to the Endangered Species sub-activity and the Agriculture and Range sub-activity. Once again, the Administration is requesting that the Tribal Climate Resilience/Cooperative Landscape Conservation sub-activity be zeroed out. This sub-activity is focused on protecting and enhancing healthy and resilient ecosystems which are vulnerable to climate change and on which tribes rely on for subsistence harvests. This sub-activity also funds efforts to make Native communities which are vulnerable to climate change more resilient. .
TRUST–REAL ESTATE SERVICES
FY 2018 Enacted $129,841,000
FY 2019 Enacted $130,680,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $121,965,000
The Trust–Real Estate Services sub-activities are: Trust Services; Navajo-Hopi Settlement Program; Probate; Land Title and Records Offices; Real Estate Services; Land Records Improvement; Environmental Quality; Alaska Native Programs; Rights Protection; and Trust-Real Estate Services Oversight.
The Administration is requesting substantial cuts for the Environmental Quality sub-activity and once again requesting to zero out the Litigation Support/Attorney Fees and Other Indian Rights Protection program elements within the Rights Protection sub-activity. The Litigation Support/Attorney Fees program element provides funding to tribes to protect, defend, or establish their rights and protect tribal trust resources guaranteed through treaty, court order, statute executive order or other legal authorities. The Other Indian Rights Protection program element supports water rights negotiation/litigation staff at the regional level.
PUBLIC SAFETY AND JUSTICE
FY 2018 Enacted $405,520,000
FY 2019 Enacted $411,517,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $409,159,000
The Public Safety and Justice sub-activities are: Law Enforcement; Tribal Courts; and Fire Protection.
Opioid Crisis Initiative. The Administration is requesting a $2.5 million increase to the Law Enforcement Special Initiatives program element under the Law Enforcement sub-activity to better address the opioid crisis in Indian Country. Funding would be directed to expanding the BIA’s capacity to oversee interdiction programs and would support 10 additional Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions to expand the DOI Opioid Task Force operation.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FY 2018 Enacted $46,447,000
FY 2019 Enacted $47,579,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $44,397,000
The Community and Economic Development sub-activities are: Job Placement and Training; Economic Development; Minerals and Mining; and Community Development Oversight.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
FY 2018 Enacted $231,747,000
FY 2019 Enacted $230,985,000
FY 2020 Enacted $233,737,000
The Executive Direction and Administrative Services sub-activities are: Assistant Secretary Support; Executive Direction; Administrative Services; Safety and Risk Management; Information Resources Technology; Human Capital Management; Facilities Management; Intra-Governmental Payments; and Rentals.
The Administration’s request reflects spending levels relatively similar to FY 2019 Enacted levels but is differentiated by a $2.5 million requested reduction for the Information Resources Technology sub-activity as well as some increases in other areas attributed to fixed costs.
CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS
FY 2018 Enacted Such sums as may be necessary
(Estimated: $241,600,000)
FY 2019 Enacted Such sums as may be necessary
(Estimated: $247,000,000)
FY 2020 Admin. Request Such sums as may be necessary
(Estimated: $285,857,000)
The Administration is requesting that Contract Support Costs (CSC) continue as an indefinite appropriation at “such sums as may be necessary” and that it continue in its own separate account comprised of Contract Support (such sums as may be necessary, estimated to be: $280,857,000) and the Indian Self-Determination Fund ($5,000,000).
General Provisions Continued. The Administration is requesting that the following general provisions continue:
Contract Support Costs, Prior Year Limitation
Sec. __. Sections 405 and 406 of division F of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235) shall continue in effect in fiscal year 2020.
Contract Support Costs, Fiscal Year 2020 Limitation
Sec. __. Amounts provided by this Act for fiscal year 2020 under headings “Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Contract Support Costs” and “Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, Contract Support Costs” are the only amounts available for contract support costs arising out of self-determination or self-governance contracts, grants, compacts, or annual funding agreements for fiscal year 2020 with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education or the Indian Health Service: Provided, That such amounts provided by this Act are not available for payment of claims for contract support costs for prior years, or for repayment of payments for settlement or judgments awarding contract support costs for prior years.
CONSTRUCTION
FY 2018 Enacted $354,113,000
FY 2019 Enacted $358,719,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 58,482,000
Per the Administrations’ request to move Education Construction to the BIE’s budget the Construction budget would be composed of: Public Safety and Justice Construction; Resources Management Construction; and Other Program Construction/ General Administration.
PUBLIC SAFETY & JUSTICE (PS&J) CONSTRUCTION
FY 2018 Enacted $35,309,000
FY 2019 Enacted $35,310,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $10,422,000
The Public Safety & Justice Construction sub-activities are: Facilities Replacement/New Construction; Employee Housing; Facilities Improvement and Repair; Fire Safety Coordination; and Fire Protection.
The Administration is proposing to zero out Facilities Replacement; cut Employee Housing by $1.4 million and cut Facilities Improvement and Repair by $5.3 million, proposing funding levels as follows:
• Facilities Replacement and New Construction $ -0-
• Employee Housing $ 3,092,000
• Facilities Improvement and Repair $ 4,058,000
• Fire Safety Coordination $ 167,000
• Fire Protection $ 3,105,000
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION
FY 2018 Enacted $67,192,000
FY 2019 Enacted $71,231,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $36,053,000
The Resources Management Construction sub-activities are: Irrigation Project Construction; Engineering and Supervision; Survey and Design; Federal Power and Compliance; and Dam Projects.
The Administration is proposing to cut $11.6 million from Irrigation Project Construction; and cut $18.5 million from Dam Projects.
OTHER PROGRAM CONSTRUCTION/ GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
FY 2018 Enacted $13,367,000
FY 2019 Enacted $13,928,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $12,007,000
The Other Program Construction sub-activities are: Telecommunications Improvement and Repair; Facilities/Quarters Improvement and Repair; and Construction Program Management.
Facilities/Quarters Improvement and Repair. The Administration is requesting a $1 million cut to this sub-activity.
INDIAN LAND AND WATER CLAIMS SETTLEMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS PAYMENTS TO INDIANS
FY 2018 Enacted $55,457,000
FY 2019 Enacted $50,057,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $45,644,000
Details by settlement can be found in attached Indian Affairs budget chart. The Administration explains the FY 2020 request as follows:
(Unallocated -9,813,000): The distribution of settlement funding in 2020 will depend on final 2019 payments to active settlements. The Navajo Trust Fund and the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (both authorized in P.L. 111-11) have enforceability dates in 2019 and will not require funding in 2020. Administration of the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement (P.L. 100-580) and the Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement (P.L. 101-618) are also complete as of end of fiscal year 2019. The 2020 funding will be allocated between ongoing administration needs of the White Earth Land Settlement Act (P.L. 99-264), final payment to the Pechanga Water Rights Settlement (P.L. 114-322), and the Blackfeet Water Rights Settlement (P.L. 114-322) whose enforceability date is in January 2025. [p.IA-SET-3]
INDIAN GUARANTEED LOAN PROGRAM
FY 2018 Enacted $ 9,272,000
FY 2019 Enacted $10,779,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 909,000
The Indian Guaranteed Loan Program is made up of Loan Subsidies and Program Management. This program guarantees or insures loans covering up to 90 percent of outstanding loan principal to Indian tribes, tribal members, or for profit and not-for-profit businesses which are at least 51% Indian owned.
Loan Subsidies. The Administration is not requesting any funding for new Indian Guaranteed Loan Program subsidies, explaining that, “… this program largely duplicates other existing loan programs serving Indian Country. The President’s reform plan ‘Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century’ proposed, where feasible, to centralize small business loans and loan guarantee programs under the Small Business Administration.” [p. IA-LOAN-4]
Program Management. The Administration is requesting to cut $348,000 from this sub-activity leaving $909,000 to “provide oversight and administrative support for the existing loan portfolio.” [p. IA-LOAN-4]
BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION
FY 2018 Enacted $ 914,413,000
FY 2019 Enacted $ 904,557,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 936,274,000
Consistent with the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) recommendations, the requests of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the Department of Interior’s FY 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, the Administration is proposing to strengthen the BIE as an independent bureau with a separate budget structure. Specifically, the House Appropriations Committee Report from FY 2019 urges:
Consistent with GAO report 13–774, the Secretary is urged to reorganize Indian Affairs so that control and accountability of the BIE system is consolidated within the BIE, to present such reorganization proposal in the next fiscal year budget request, and to submit to the Committees a corresponding updated workforce plan.
The Administration proposes to do this by moving the BIE operational accounts out from under the BIA’s Operation of Indian Programs account to a separate Operation of Indian Education Programs account and moving the Education Construction account out from under the Indian Affairs Construction account. The new BIE budget would then be composed of the Operation of Indian Education Programs account and the Education Construction account. The amount shown above for the Administration’s FY 2020 BIE request includes both the request for Operation of Indian Education Programs account and the Education Construction account. The Administration explains:
A key aspect of this effort is decoupling overlapping functions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and BIE to better deliver services to schools, maximize efficiency, and build capacity within BIE. BIE will retain existing programs and gradually assume direct responsibility for acquisition, safety, and facilities management. Aligning resources with management responsibilities addresses recommendations of the Government Accountability Office and will provide BIE the autonomy and accountability needed to improve service delivery to, and by, BIE-funded schools.
… The 2020 budget maintains existing Administrative Provisions for both the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the BIE, and proposes appropriations language allowing for the transfer of funding between accounts with reporting to Congress, as the bureaus transition to the new funding structure. [p. BIE-ES-1 to BIE-ES-2]
OPERATION OF INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAMS
FY 2018 Enacted $914,413,000
FY 2019 Enacted $904,557,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $867,416,000
The Operation of Indian Education Programs category displays funds for the BIE-funded elementary and secondary school systems as well as other education programs including higher education and scholarships. Budget activities within the Operation of Indian Education Programs are: Elementary and Secondary Programs (Forward Funded); Elementary and Secondary Programs (Non-Forward Funded); Post Secondary Programs (Forward Funded); Post Secondary Programs (Non-Forward Funded); and Education Management.
Bill Language Continuing Limitations on New Schools and the Expansion of Grades, Charter Schools, Satellite Locations and BIE-funded Schools in Alaska. For FY 2020, the Administration proposes to continue this limiting language from prior appropriations Acts, including the language modifying the limits on expanded grades first provided in the FY 2018 appropriations Act.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PROGRAMS (FORWARD FUNDED)
FY 2018 Enacted $579,242,000
FY 2019 Enacted $582,580,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $585,055,000
The Elementary and Secondary forward funded sub-activities are: ISEP Formula Funding; ISEP Program Adjustments; Education Program Enhancements; Tribal Education Departments; Student Transportation; Early Childhood Development; and Tribal Grant Support Costs. Funds appropriated for FY 2020 for these programs will become available for obligation on July 1, 2020, for SY 2020-2021.
Education Program Enhancements. The Administration is requesting a $2 million increase to the sub-activity overall and requesting that the Native Language Immersion Grants continue.
Early Child and Family Development (FACE). The Administration is requesting a $2 million increase for this sub-activity stating that, “BIE will maintain FACE sites while continuing implementation of early childhood activities outlined in the BIE Strategic Direction. Implementation will be accomplished through a phased approach utilizing pilot initiatives to determine the most effective strategies for improving kindergarten readiness.”
Tribal Grant Support Costs. The Administration is requesting that full funding be continued, albeit at a slightly lower estimate: $81,508,000.
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY PROGRAMS (NON-FORWARD FUNDED)
FY 2018 Enacted $141,563,000
FY 2019 Enacted $143,972,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $141,729,000
The Elementary and Secondary non-forward funded sub-activities are: Facilities Operations; Facilities Maintenance; Juvenile Detention Center Grants; and Johnson-O’Malley Assistance Grants.
POST SECONDARY PROGRAMS (FORWARD FUNDED)
FY 2018 Enacted $ 94,183,000
FY 2019 Enacted $100,992,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 96,810,000
The Post Secondary forward funded sub-activities are: Tribal Colleges and Universities; Tribal Technical Colleges (United Tribes Technical College (UTTC) and Navajo Technical University (NTU)); and now, finally, Haskell and SIPI.
POST SECONDARY PROGRAMS (NON-FORWARD FUNDED)
FY 2018 Enacted $64,171,000
FY 2019 Enacted $41,658,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 1,220,000
The Post Secondary non-forward funded sub-activities are: Tribal Colleges and Universities Supplements; Scholarships and Adult Education; Special Higher Education Scholarships; and the Science Post Graduate Scholarship Fund.
The Administration is once again requesting to continue funding for Tribal Colleges and Universities Supplements while zeroing out everything else.
EDUCATION MANAGEMENT
FY 2018 Enacted $35,254,000
FY 2019 Enacted $35,355,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $42,602,000
The Education Management sub-activities are Education Program Management and Information Technology.
Education Program Management. The Administration is requesting a $7.2 million and 88 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) increase to be used as follows:
In FY 2020, BIE will continue successful implementation of the BIE Strategic Direction and ongoing reform efforts, strengthen BIE as an independent bureau, and increase accountability and transparency throughout the Bureau. The additional resources in the 2020 request will improve BIE’s ability to implement GAO and OIG recommendations and address critical School Operations by hiring additional acquisition, facilities, and safety staff. The capacity will allow BIE to ensure prompt acquisitions, regular safety inspections and action on required abatement actions. In addition, BIE will develop safety committees, threat assessments, school violence prevention and response strategies, and promulgate national protocols and procedures. Additional funding will also support Education Program Administrators, grants managers, and support staff for the Education Resource Centers located in the Dakotas. [p. BIE-OIEP-6]
EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION
FY 2018 Enacted $238,245,000
FY 2019 Enacted $238,250,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 68,858,000
The Education Construction sub-activities are: Replacement School Construction; Replacement Facility Construction; Employee Housing Repair; and Facilities Improvement and Repair.
Replacement Construction. The Administration is once again requesting to zero out Replacement School Campus Construction and Replacement Facility Construction ($105.5 million and $23.9 million cuts, respectively) and once again stating that Indian Affairs “will continue construction of the three remaining 2004 list replacements schools and continue design and construction efforts for at least four schools from the 2016 replacement school list.” We note that Congress has repeatedly rejected the Administration’s requests to zero out these two sub-activities. Further, we note that Congress continues to request and the Administration continues not to provide: a replacement priority list beyond 2016 as well as a long-term facilities plan similar to the Department of Defense process in 2009.
Employee Housing. The Administration is proposing a new $1 million sub-activity: Replacement – New Employee Housing; however this is paired with a request to cut $8.5 million from Employee Housing Repair.
Facilities Improvement and Repair. The Administration estimates that there is a $591.8 million deferred maintenance backlog within the BIE system. The Administration is requesting a $32.4 million cut to this sub-activity and urges Congress to take up legislation to authorize the proposed Public Lands Infrastructure Fund.
The Administration’s request by sub-activity:
• Replacement School Campus Construction $ -0-
• Replacement Facility Construction $ -0-
• Replacement – New Employee Housing $ 1,000,000
• Employee Housing Repair $ 5,062,000
• Facilities Improvement and Repair $ 62,796,000
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN INDIANS
FY 2018 Enacted $119,400,000
FY 2019 Enacted $107,067,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $105,143,000
History and Purpose of the Office. The Administration explains:
The Congress designated the Secretary of the Interior with responsibility for approximately 56 million surface acres, 58 million acres of subsurface mineral interests, and over $5 billion held in trust by the Federal Government on behalf of American Indians and Indian Tribes. The Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians (OST) has operational purview for financial trust fund management, including receipt, investment, and disbursement of Indian trust funds. Trust fund operations entail management of over $5 billion held in about 3,500 trust accounts for more than 250 Indian Tribes and nearly 406,000 open Individual Indian Money (IIM) accounts. Trust fund balances result from judgment awards, claims settlements, land-use agreements, royalties on natural resource use, other proceeds derived directly from trust resources, and financial investment income. [p. OST-1]
Proposed Changes. The Administration is proposing to change the reporting relationship of OST from the Office of the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs. The OST would continue to be a separate organization reporting to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs, as do BIA and BIE. The Administration explains, “The realignment within the department will enhance planning and coordination of policies and services to Indian Country.” [p.IA-GS-4] The proposed changes are as follows:
• Transfer of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (LBBP). The budget proposes to realign the Land Buy Back Program for Tribal Nations from the Office of the Secretary to OST. The LBBP is responsible for the expenditure of the $1.9 billion Trust Land Consolidation Fund authorized by the Settlement Agreement in Cobell v. Salazar, No. 96-CV1285-JR and confirmed by the Claims Resolution Act of 2010.
• Transfer of OST to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs (AS-IA). The budget proposes to change the reporting relationship of the OST from the Office of the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs. The OST will continue to be a separate organization reporting to the AS-IA, as do the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).
• Transfer of the Office of Appraisal Services to Office of the Secretary. The budget also reflects the approved transfer of the Office of Appraisal Services to the Office of the Secretary’s Appraisal and Valuation Services Office (AVSO). Under AVSO, all appraisal and valuations are conducted by a single entity within the Department as required by the Indian Trust Asset Reform Act. [p. OST-1]
OTHER RELATED AGENCIES
OFFICE OF NAVAJO-HOPI INDIAN RELOCATION
FY 2018 Enacted $15,431,000
FY 2019 Enacted $ 8,750,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 7,500,000
The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR) was created as a result of the Navajo Hopi Settlement Act of 1974, Public Law 93–531. The Office is charged with planning and conducting relocation activities associated with the settlement of land disputes between the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe.
The Administration states, “The funds requested will support the Operation of the Office, Relocation Operations, and Discretionary Funding to facilitate and expedite resettlement activities, and bring about the closure of the Office, consistent with the provisions of PL 93-531 and its associated Amendments Act of 1980, PL 96-305, 1988, PL 100-666, and 1991, PL 102-180.”
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
TRIBAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION
FY 2018 Enacted $11,485,000
FY 2019 Enacted $11,735,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $ 5,738,000
The Tribal Historic Preservation Program provides funding to tribes that have signed agreements with the National Park Service designating them as having an approved Tribal Historic Preservation Officer (THPO).
NATIONAL RECREATION AND PRESERVATION
National Recreation and Preservation is found under a different part of the National Park Service budget than Historic Preservation. Cultural Programs is the sub-activity which funds National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) grants.
Cultural Programs
FY 2018 Enacted $25,062,000
FY 2019 Enacted $25,562,000
FY 2020 Admin. Request $19,404,000
DEPARTMENTAL OFFICES: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY [INTERIOR]
DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS
Department of the Interior Reorganization. The planned Reorganization of the Department of the Interior is underway; however, at the request of many tribes, Indian Affairs will not be part of this Reorganization. We note that despite the fact Indian Affairs will not be part of the Reorganization, Congress has directed the Administration to continue to take the views of tribes into account as the Reorganization of the Department of the Interior proceeds. For FY 2020 the Administration states:
Over many decades, the Department of the Interior experienced new bureaus becoming established on an ad hoc basis with their own unique regional organizations. This ultimately resulted in a complicated series of 49 regional boundaries among 8 bureaus.
This complexity led to the situation where bureau regional leadership was often focused on different geographic areas, did not have an adequate and shared understanding of the needs and perspectives of regional stakeholders, and opportunities to share administrative capacity across bureaus were difficult to recognize and implement.
Further, members of the public were often frustrated by problems in inter-bureau decision making where uncoordinated timelines and processes could lead to unnecessarily long delays in reaching a decision. The Department’s reorganization is focused on making improvements across each of these areas. On August 22, 2018, after working closely with stakeholders across the country on options to consolidate Interior’s 49 different regions into common regions, the Department announced the designation of Interior’s 12 new unified regions. As a result of Tribal consultation, BIA, BIE, and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians will not realign their regional field structures. Work is underway in 2019 to plan implementation, conduct analysis, and identify areas for collaboration within the new regions. [p.OS-9]
If we may provide additional information or assistance regarding FY 2020 INDIAN AFFAIRS, OTHER RELATED AGENCIES, or NATIONAL PARK SERVICE appropriations, please contact us at the information below.
