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- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.
Senators Demand Further Investigation into Trump Administration’s Unlawful Dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency
A group of Democratic U.S. senators sent a letter requesting that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigate potential violations related to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s unlawful dismantling of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), the only federal agency dedicated to supporting the growth and competitiveness of minority-owned businesses. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Luján also called on the Commerce Department under President Trump to provide an update on the status of the MBDA, which the administration has sought to eliminate.
The letter was led and signed by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) signed the letter.
On March 14, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order directing the elimination of the MBDA and other federal agencies. Although Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had previously committed to preserving the MBDA, the Department moved forward with dismantling the agency following the Executive Order.
“Although the Department later rescinded the RIFs after Congress passed legislation requiring it do so and before the district court could rule on whether the Department’s actions violated the court’s order, the court admonished the Administration ‘that it is never acceptable to violate a court order’ and warned any such violations may ‘warrant further Court action,’” the senators continued. “These developments, coupled with the Department’s lack of transparency regarding its actions toward the MBDA, raise serious questions about the sufficiency of the Department’s protocols for ensuring compliance with the district court’s orders and whether Department leadership is violating the court’s clear commands.”
The senators concluded their letter by urging the GAO to expand its investigation to include possible violations of federal district court orders by Commerce Department leadership and to assess whether the Department has taken adequate steps to ensure compliance.
The full text of the letter is available HERE.
House Committee Announces American Indian & Alaska Native Public Witness Hearing Dates &Testimony Instructions
The House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee announced the Fiscal Year 2027 American Indian and Alaska Native public witness hearing dates and instructions for providing a written public testimony.
The subcommittee will host American Indian and Alaska Native public witness hearings on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
No other outside public witness hearings are scheduled at this time.
As in years past, written testimony from Tribes or any other organizations will be accepted. All testimony must be in accordance with the guidelines below. It will then be reviewed by the subcommittee and included in the public record.
Testifying In-Person
The deadline to submit requests to testify is Monday, February 23, 2026.
Please find instructions for submitting a request to testify at the American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Hearings by clicking here.
Written Testimony Submissions
The deadline to submit written public testimony for all groups is Friday, April 24, 2026.
For all groups, please find instructions for providing written public testimony by clicking here.
Examples of previously written testimonies can be found here and here.
Department of the Interior Opens 2.1 Million Acres in Alaska’s Dalton Corridor
The Department of the Interior will issue Public Land Order No. 7966 for Alaska’s Dalton Utility Corridor, making approximately 2.1 million acres of public land available for location and entry under federal public land and mining laws.
This action represents a significant milestone in advancing the State of Alaska’s land entitlement. By revoking Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180 north of the Yukon River, the order broadens access for responsible resource development and strengthens the State’s ability to shape its economic future.
The Dalton corridor includes key infrastructure such as the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and proposed projects like the Alaska Liquid Natural Gas line and Ambler Road. The revocation supports efforts to expand domestic energy and mineral production under Executive Order 14153 and Secretary’s Order 3422, both titled “Unleashing American Energy.”
This Public Land Order will officially publish in the Federal Register next week.
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