FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fort Hall Business Council defends Tribal services amid proposed $163B federal cuts.
By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
WASHINGTON – On May 1, 2025, President Trump released his proposed FY 2026 budget, calling for major cuts to domestic programs, including many that support Native communities. In response, the Fort Hall Business Council is taking strategic action to protect vital services for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.
The proposal includes a $163 billion (22.6 percent) reduction in spending from current-year levels. The administration argues these cuts target programs it deems misaligned with the needs of working Americans or better managed at the state or local level.
Some key departmental cuts that impact Tribes include the Department of Interior recommendation is for a $5.1B cut; the Department of Health and Human Services recommendation is for a $33.3B cut; the Department of Housing and Urban Development recommendation is for a $33.6B cut.
The proposed reductions threaten access to health care, cultural preservation, education, housing, and social services, while further straining the federal government’s obligation to uphold its Trust and Treaty responsibilities to Tribes.
While the proposal reflects the administration’s priorities, Congress ultimately sets spending levels through the appropriations process. A clearer picture of potential program eliminations and cuts will emerge once Congress begins drafting appropriations legislation in the coming 30 to 90 days.
Despite this, the Fort Hall Business Council is actively leading the charge to defend Tribal interests.
“We will not allow federal cuts to weaken the foundation of our Tribal sovereignty or the well-being of our people,” said FHBC Chairman Lee Juan Tendoy. “We are speaking up, showing up, and standing strong for our Tribal membership to remind our federal trustees of their fiduciary and Trust obligations to us.”
Since the 2024 elections, the Council has taken a proactive and coordinated approach to protecting Tribal priorities. They met with the Idaho delegation on five separate occasions, testified before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, and continuously send formal letters to the Idaho delegation and federal agencies, outlining concerns and advocating for the protection of critical Tribal issues.
Additionally, the Council has maintained strong alliances with national Tribal organizations including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI), Coalition of Large Tribes (COLT), the Tribe’s federal lobbyists, and others who all have the shared mission to ensure that the U.S. Government fulfills its Trust and Treaty obligations.
As the House and Senate Appropriations Committees begin their work on the FY 2026 budget, the Council remains fully engaged and will continue to advocate for the protection of Tribal programs and ensure the voices of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are heard and respected at every stage of the federal budget process.