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.
NAIHC Welcomes HUD-Interior Agreement to Advance Tribal Homeownership
The National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) welcomed a September 2026 memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Interior to implement the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025.
The non-binding agreement aims to reduce mortgage processing delays on tribal trust lands, strengthen coordination for HUD’s Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program and improve HUD’s access to the Trust Asset and Accounting Management System (TAAMS).
The agreement also provides for temporary technical assistance and improved communication among federal agencies, Tribes, tribal designated housing entities and lenders.
NAIHC called the agreement a positive step toward expanding homeownership opportunities for Native families and encouraged its members to remain engaged as implementation moves forward.
USDA Urges States to Review Wolf Management Policies, Support Ranchers
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins is urging states to review wolf management policies, strengthen engagement with livestock producers and work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address wolf predation.
The October 24, 2026, announcement follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14425, “Supporting America’s Ranchers,” and emphasizes the administration’s efforts to help ranchers protect livestock and recover losses from predator attacks.
Rollins encouraged states to review their wolf protections and work with USDA to protect livestock, including through lethal removal when requested by the appropriate authorities and authorized by law.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services provides wolf damage management assistance at the request of state agencies or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Lethal removal requests must meet applicable state and federal legal requirements, including necessary agreements and environmental analyses.
