Dec 26, 2018 - Government Shutdown and Implications for BIE Tribal Schools

Washington D.C. – On December 22, 2018 President Trump shut down the government over not getting $5.7 billion to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.

In addition to the Violence Against Women Act expiring with the shutdown, Tribal communities also face threats to funding of Bureau of Indian Education [BIE] Tribal schools due to the shutdown.

According to the BIE , “the Bureau of Indian Education oversees a total of 183 elementary, secondary, residential and peripheral dormitories across 23 states. 130 schools are tribally controlled under P.L. 93-638 Indian Self Determination Contracts or P.L. 100-297 Tribally Controlled Grant Schools Act. 53 schools are operated by the Bureau of Indian Education. The Bureau of Indian Education also oversees two (2) post-secondary schools: Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.

The National Indian Education Association released the following statement in response to the shutdown.

Government Shutdown Threatens U.S. Department of Interior 

Over the past week, Congress grappled with an agreement to fund federal agencies not included in appropriation deals reached in September.  This included the U.S. Department of Interior, the department which administers programs for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. In a last-minute vote on Thursday December 20, the House of Representatives rejected a Senate bill that would have kept the government funded through February 8, 2019 plus added $5.7 billion for border security and $7.8 billion for a disaster aid package. In response, the Senate was recalled to Washington and voted narrowly to open deliberations on the House bill.  Just after 8:30 PM (EST) on December 21, the House adjourned for the evening with leaders from both the House and the Senate indicating that there would not be any votes conducted.  With no deal reached, the federal government shut down just after midnight on December 22, impacting several departments, including the U.S. Department of Interior. 

Implications for the Bureau of Indian Education

Native education programs that are funded through the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), an agency within the Department of Interior, will continue to operate in the short-term. However, over the longer term, the uncertainty regarding programs may have an impact on BIE operations related to negotiated rulemaking under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and contribute to the instability of access to BIE regional and federal staff.  If the shutdown continues after the holidays, BIE schools would face challenges in continuing overall administrative functions, including transportation and school support.  NIEA is monitoring the actions of the Congress closely and will keep you informed. To read the BIE’s contingency plan in case of a government shutdown, please click here.   

About The National Indian Education Association (NIEA):NIEA is the Nation’s most inclusive advocacy organization advancing comprehensive culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Formed by Native educators in 1969 to encourage a national discourse on education, NIEA adheres to the organization’s founding principles- to convene educators to explore ways to improve schools and the educational systems serving Native children; to promote the maintenance and continued development of language and cultural programs; and to develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and decision makers. For more information visit www.niea.org.