May 24, 2017 - Trump Proposes Deep Cuts to Indian Affairs Budget

Washington D.C. – On Tuesday, the Trump Administration released its proposed budget, which includes cutting $300 million, roughly 10%, from the Interior Indian Affairs budget.

Proposed cuts include:

1. $64 million from Indian Education
2. $21 million from tribal law enforcement and public safety
3. $27 million from tribal natural resources management programs
4. $23 million from human services (which includes Indian Child Welfare)
5. $50 million from the construction budget
6. $48 million for the Native American Housing Block Grant program at Housing and Urban Development
7. $35 million for Contract Support Costs
8. $15 million cut to real estate services

Reduction in adequate spending on Tribal education and health care by the Federal government is a violation of Tribe’s treaty rights.  Included in Tribal treaty rights are a right to education and health care.

The proposed Trump budget overall sees cuts in other domestic programs such as, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Dept of Housing and Urban Development.

Spending on the Dept of Homeland Security and the Dept of Defense would be increased.

Spending on the Dept of Defense, who already has the largest budget of all programs, would see an increase in spending from $521.85 billion to $574.5 billion.

Half of the funds for border security would be directed towards building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico border.

While budgets need final approval from Congress, and Presidential budgets historically are largely dismissed by lawmakers, the Trump budget highlights his administration priorities.

by Wakíƞyaƞ Waánataƞ (Matt Remle- Lakota)