Federal Shutdown Deepens Crisis Across Native American Programs

The ongoing federal government shutdown and significant staff cuts are severely impacting essential programs that serve Native American and Alaska Native communities, violating treaty and trust obligations, according to tribal leaders and Senate testimony. The shutdown has halted critical services such as food assistance, education, health care, and economic development, with agencies like the Department of Education and Treasury seeing massive job cuts that disrupt funding and support for Native programs. Tribes like the Blackfeet Nation are turning to natural resources, including emergency buffalo and elk harvests, to address rising food insecurity caused by federal disruptions. The Alaska Federation of Natives highlighted the life-threatening challenges faced by communities reliant on programs like SNAP and LIHEAP, which are at risk due to funding lapses. A Brookings Institution report underscored structural flaws in federal funding mechanisms, revealing a $5.6 billion gap between appropriations and obligated funding, which exacerbates the instability of support for Native Nations. Overall, the shutdown exposes deep vulnerabilities in the government's ability to fulfill its legal obligations to Native communities, with tribal leaders emphasizing these programs are legally mandated, not discretionary spending.