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.
IHS Launches Tribal Consultation on Strategic Realignment
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has initiated a Tribal Consultation to gather input on its upcoming Strategic Realignment, which coincides with the agency’s 70th anniversary. In a recently issued Dear Tribal Leader Letter and accompanying materials, IHS invites Tribal leaders to provide feedback to help the agency more effectively meet its legal responsibilities and improve health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
While IHS welcomes all comments, the agency is especially seeking input in three key areas:
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Direct patient care delivery
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Enterprise and operational management
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Support for Tribal self-determination
To support this consultation, IHS will host four in-person consultation sessions and one virtual Urban Confer.
Tribal leaders and representatives are also encouraged to submit written comments by August 28, 2025. Comments should be sent via email to: consultation@ihs.gov
Dates and locations for in-person consultations:
- Session 1: Tuesday, July 8, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PT at the Seattle Airport Marriott, Seattle, Washington
- Session 2: Thursday, July 10, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. MT at the Marriott Phoenix Chandler, Chandler, Arizona
- Session 3: Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT at the Hyatt Regency Bloomington-Minneapolis, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Session 4: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Hall of Tribal Nations, Washington, D.C.
- Session 5: Urban Confer – Monday, July 28, 2025 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET, virtual only
Rep. Tom Cole (Chickasaw) Issues Statement in Support of One Big Beautiful Bill
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) released the following statement celebrating the House passage of the historic One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). The measure was signed into law on Friday by President Trump.
“On the eve of America’s birthday, today’s passage reflects both the strength of our founding principles and the promise of the golden chapters ahead. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) delivers on President Trump’s promise of empowering Americans. It implements the largest tax cut for working families, farmers, and small businesses in U.S. history. It strengthens our border security and national defense.
It enhances economic growth and investment. And it reduces the deficit through mandatory savings while safeguarding critical programs. This is a transformational step toward restoring American greatness—one rooted in common sense, fiscal responsibility, and an unshakeable confidence to build, prosper, and innovate. These priorities will continue to guide our work on the discretionary side as the FY26 appropriations process moves forward. OBBBA may be at the finish line, but delivering wins for the American people doesn’t stop here. Our Republican agenda—and the funding work still to come—remains focused on what matters most: protecting taxpayers, defending the homeland, and rebuilding the American dream.”
Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty Analysis of FY 2026 President’s Budget
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and its partners at the Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty (CTS) have an important update regarding the federal budget process and its direct impact on tribal programs. CTS has released a comprehensive analysis of the President’s full FY 2026 Budget Request—an update to our initial review of the “skinny” budget and memo on the Budget Request’s interaction with Budget Reconciliation released earlier this year.
Based on current information, the analysis estimates the President’s Budget would allocate approximately $29.9 billion for programs benefiting Native Americans and Alaska Natives. This represents a decrease of $2.7 billion (or 8.2%) compared to the previous year.
Because the process is ongoing and some information is still unavailable, CTS’s analysis combines prior year mandatory spending data, the current discretionary request, proposed reconciliation changes, and all known rescissions as of June 24, 2025.