The Department of the Interior (“Interior”) announced a series of upcoming consultation opportunities on workforce optimization. The consultations follow President Trump’s Executive Order 14210, issued on February 11th, establishing the “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative. This initiative is intended to enhance efficiency and productivity within the federal workforce and requires each agency to develop an Agency Reorganization Plan. The Department has requested formal consultation to inform its work designing and implementing workforce optimization priorities.
The announced Interior consultations will cover all of Indian Affairs, including the Office of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA). The Department seeks feedback on the following and related topics:
- EO 14210
- Restructuring of Indian Affairs to support more efficient interactions with Tribes
- Addressing current funding structures, including identifying efficiency barriers to expedite funding to Tribes and Tribal Programs
- Increasing Indian Affairs Support for Tribal self-governance and self-determination
The Department will conduct six (6) in-person/hybrid consultations and two (2) virtual Tribal consultation sessions where Tribal leaders and interested parties may present oral and written comments.
The in-person consultations will be held between May 20, 2025, and June 5, 2025, in Anchorage, AK; Sacramento, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Bloomington, MN; and Oklahoma City, OK; and Washington, D.C. Virtual consultations are scheduled for May 30 and June 6.
Interior has designated the May 30 virtual consultation for interested parties to provide oral comments regarding the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). In addition to Tribal leaders, interested parties include, but are not limited to, school board members, school administrators, students enrolled at BIE-funded schools and their parents, and the Indian communities served by
BIE-funded schools.
Written comments may be submitted by email to consultation@bia.gov or mail to the Department of the Interior, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 229, Albuquerque, NM 87104. The deadline for written comments is 11:59 pm ET on Monday, July 7, 2025.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like assistance preparing written or oral comments for the consultations.
