- Details
- By Kevin J. Allis
Guest Opinion. On March 20, President Trump signed an executive order that could significantly reshape how the federal government purchases common goods and services. While the stated goal is efficiency, streamlining procurement through the General Services Administration (GSA) and reducing waste, it could have serious unintended consequences for Tribal enterprises across the country, particularly those participating in the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program.
For decades, the 8(a) program has been one of the most powerful tools available to help Tribal Nations build economic self-sufficiency. It provides Tribally owned businesses with access to federal contracting opportunities, including the ability to receive sole-source awards without competition under certain conditions. These businesses don’t just generate revenue, they create jobs, fund tribal services, and empower Native communities to take charge of their own futures.
But this new executive order threatens to upend that progress.
By centralizing the purchasing of common goods and services under GSA, agencies may lose the flexibility to award direct contracts to Tribal 8(a) firms. These firms often work closely with specific agencies that understand their value, their capabilities, and their connection to the communities they serve. Removing that direct line of procurement, and forcing all competition through large, complex GSA vehicles, risks sidelining many of these Native-owned businesses.
Worse still, GSA’s contracting mechanisms are often out of reach for smaller or newer Tribal firms. Getting on a GSA schedule or participating in a government-wide acquisition contract (GWAC) requires a level of past performance, infrastructure, and administrative complexity that many tribal enterprises, especially those in rural or reservation areas, struggle to meet. If GSA becomes the main gateway to federal contracts, Tribal firms may find the door closed.
This change also puts at risk one of the cornerstone benefits of the Tribal 8(a) program: the authority to receive sole-source contracts. If federal buyers are pushed toward using only GSA-managed contract vehicles, they may overlook or abandon sole-source options entirely. That’s not just a policy shift, it’s a direct threat to the economic independence of Tribal Nations.
Still, there’s an opportunity here, if we act now.
GSA and the administration must be pushed to include Native voices in the implementation of this order. That includes creating dedicated Tribal set-asides within GSA vehicles, preserving the unique sole-source authority of Tribal 8(a) firms, and establishing accessible pathways for these businesses to participate in centralized procurement. That could mean streamlined onboarding processes, capacity-building support, and partnerships with institutions like 1862 land-grant universities or national tribal organizations.
If done right, this procurement overhaul doesn’t have to shut Tribal enterprises out. It could actually bring more visibility and opportunity, if equity and inclusion are part of the design from the beginning. But time is short. As federal agencies shift their procurement strategies, Tribal Nations and their economic development arms must speak up. Congress, SBA, GSA, and the White House need to hear the same message: don’t leave Indian Country behind in the name of efficiency.
Tribal businesses have always been ready to compete. All we ask is for a fair and equitable shot to do so in the new system.
Kevin Allis (Forest County Potawatomi Community) is the founder and President of Thunderbird Strategic, LLC, a Washington, DC-based Government Relations and Communications firm that specializes in advocacy and campaigns for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations and community based organizations. He previsously served as CEO of the National Congress of American Indians and the Executive Director at the Native American Contractors Association.
More Stories Like This
The Military and CiviliansA Proud Milestone in Cherokee Innovation and Storytelling
Copper Mine or Future Homes? In the Battle for Arizona Water, the Mine Wins
Double Down on What Works: Invest in Native CDFIs, Don’t Eliminate Them
The Big Ugly Bill Attacks Tribes, Our Lands, and Our Rights
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher