The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) continues to advocate for the federal government to uphold its trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations, particularly in the area of health. The recent executive orders and subsequent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memos raise concerns about the continuity of critical federal funding and programs that directly impact the health and well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
Tribal health programs must not be left up to choice—they are a fundamental part of the federal trust responsibility. The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to provide healthcare to Tribal Nations, as established through treaties, the U.S. Constitution, and federal law. Any delay of Tribal health funding undermines this obligation and threatens the lives of Native people.
By nearly every measure—life expectancy, chronic disease rates, behavioral health challenges—Tribal communities continue to face significant health disparities. Any interruption in federal health funding jeopardizes essential healthcare services, including access to hospitals, clinics, mental health resources, public health programs, and lives.
NIHB strongly urges the Administration to ensure that Tribal health programs remain fully funded and operational and that agencies continue to engage in meaningful, government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations to resolve compliance matters without imposing burdensome reporting requirements.
“Our ancestors sacrificed their lives and lands to secure the future of our People,” said William “Chief Bill” Smith, Valdez Village Native Vice Chairman and Chairman and Alaska Area Representative of NIHB. “The federal government must honor its trust and treaty obligations and ensure that these funding freezes do not harm our communities. The uncertainty and disruption will hit Tribes the hardest—costing us the lives of our most vulnerable, our babies and elders. That is a price we cannot and will not accept.”
NIHB stands ready to work with the administration to ensure that executive actions do not disrupt the vital healthcare services that millions of Native people rely on.
NIHB is gathering stories, feedback, and information from Tribal leaders and I/T/U health care professionals about the impacts you may have experienced as a result of policies such as the federal funding freeze, federal civilian employee hiring freeze, or other recent executive orders/memoranda. If you would like to share information on the impacts that your Tribe or Tribal program have experienced, click below.
The National Indian Health Board is proud to stand alongside 14 other Tribal organizations as part of a united coalition dedicated to ensuring that the actions of the current administration do not harm American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or the vital programs that serve our people. Together, we are actively engaging with federal agencies, Congress, and the administration to uphold the Trust and Treaty Responsibilities—sacred obligations that Tribes have paid in full with their lives and lands.
Executive Order 14180: Council to Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency – January 24, 2025
The Coalition wrote a series of letters to Federal Agencies on the importance of Tribal Programs and their impact on Indian Country.
To access additional resources and documents from the coalition, please visit: https://thecoalitiongroup.net/
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