May 15, 2025
(Targeted News Service (Press Releases))
–
WASHINGTON
,
May 15
-- Sen.
Brian Schatz
, D-
Hawaii
, vice chair of the
Senate Indian Affairs Committee
, issued the following news release on
May 14, 2025
:
* * *
NEWS: Schatz:
Trump Administration Illegally Blocking Funding Owed To Native Communities
WASHINGTON
-- A new tracker revealed that the Trump administration is blocking or freezing more than
$430 billion
in federal funding owed to communities across the country -- including nearly
$316 billion
for national programs that support Indian Country and Native communities. The data reflects just how widespread the damage is -- with funding for public safety, housing, disaster recovery, child care, transportation, infrastructure, and education either delayed or terminated, and whole agencies and offices closed down, cutting off vital services.
"Illegally blocking the money to pay for tax cuts for the richest people and corporations on the planet hurts local economies, puts working families at risk, and represents a deep betrayal of our trust duties to Native communities," said
Senator Schatz
, vice chairman of the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
. "Each day this Congressionally appropriated funding remains frozen, people are being robbed of health screenings at local clinics, parents are losing child care and educational opportunities for their kids, and communities are less safe."
As these cuts take effect, the Trump administration has imposed "Defend the Spend," a sweeping new policy that requires grantees to justify spending line by line, even for items that have already been awarded. Grantees have received inconsistent guidance on how to navigate the new mandate, and many have faced significant delays in accessing funding they were already awarded -- including funding for essential Tribal services.
At the same time, the Trump administration is proposing to slash
$911 million
-- a 24 percent cut -- from core Tribal programs in its Fiscal Year 2026 proposed budget. These cuts would gut basic services like public safety and justice, education and workforce training, Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) housing grants,
Native Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
(CDFIs), forestry management, and programs for Native children and families. They would also nearly eliminate funding to construct or repair Tribal schools, which are already chronically underfunded, and reduce support for Tribal law enforcement by 20 percent.
As the economy slows and prices rise due to
President Trump's
policies, these devastating cuts and burdensome new processes would make life harder in Native communities.
If you or your community has been impacted by withheld or terminated federal funding, you are encouraged to share your story by emailing oversight@indian.senate.gov. Your name and contact information will be kept confidential. Please include the federal agency and program involved in your submission.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.indian.senate.gov/newsroom/press-release/democratic/news-schatz-trump-administration-illegally-blocking-funding-owed-to-native-communities/
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