This spring, as Congress worked to set federal spending for Fiscal Year 2027, Native communities faced uncertainty. The President’s budget proposal had called for deep cuts to programs on which tribes and Native people depend— cuts that would have undermined tribal self-governance, threatened access to health care, and weakened Native students’ education.
Tribal nations and Native-led organizations successfully pushed back. As a non-Native organization, we follow the lead of tribal nations and Indigenous advocates who have spent generations fighting for the federal government to honor its treaty obligations. This year, FCNL lobbied for increased investments in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), reflecting our focus on efforts to end the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Crisis. In a major win, TAP received a 50% funding increase in the House Interior Appropriations Bill.
These wins belong to Native advocates. We’re honored to struggle in solidarity with them.
Below is an overview of TAP and other notable wins for tribal citizens.
Protecting and Growing Tribal Programs in the Interior Bill
The House Interior-Environment Appropriations bill funds two of the most critical federal agencies for tribal nations: the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), which funds tribal governments, law enforcement, and social services, and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), which operates or supports over 180 schools serving tens of thousands of Native students.
The final House bill provides $3.21 billion for the BIA — $721 million, or 29%, more than was enacted last year. That funding keeps tribal governments running, funds roads and bridges on tribal lands, supports law enforcement and courts in Native communities, and much more.
For education, the bill provides $1.55 billion for the BIE — a $182 million increase, or 13.3%, above last year. That includes $304 million specifically for school construction and renovation, which has long been a priority for FCNL. Native students deserve safe, modern school buildings, and this funding helps deliver on that promise.
More Funding for Native Health Care
Access to quality health care has been a persistent challenge in many Native communities. The Indian Health Service (IHS) — the federal agency responsible for providing health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives — has historically been chronically underfunded relative to the need.
Every dollar invested in IHS is a step toward fulfilling the federal government’s trust responsibility to Native people.
This year, the House Appropriations Committee proposed $8.7 billion for IHS — an increase of $640 million above the current enacted level. That increase supports patients who need to see specialists or access services that aren’t available at their local IHS facility. It also includes additional funding for environmental health and health facilities, supporting the infrastructure Native communities need to receive safe, quality care.
Every dollar invested in IHS is a step toward fulfilling the federal government’s trust responsibility to Native people, which is a legal and moral obligation rooted in treaty commitments that go back centuries.
Increased Funding for the Tribal Access Program
The Tribal Access Program (TAP), funded through the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill, is a lifeline for public safety in tribal communities. TAP gives tribes access to national crime databases — tools that state and local law enforcement have long relied on, but that tribal law enforcement has historically been denied. Access to these databases is essential for investigating crimes, locating missing persons, and keeping Native communities safe.
The FY2027 House bill increases TAP funding from $4 million to $6 million. That additional $2 million means more tribes can connect to these critical systems, and more communities can benefit from the public safety infrastructure that other jurisdictions have taken for granted for years.
On to the Senate!
These wins didn’t happen by accident. They are the result of years of persistent, principled advocacy by tribal nations and Native organizations.
But the work isn’t done. The House has passed its version of these bills. Now, the Senate must act.
But the work isn’t done. The House has passed its version of these bills. Now, the Senate must act, and ultimately both chambers must agree on a final spending package. That process can take months, and there will be opportunities for these gains to be protected or eroded along the way.
If you want to help, reach out to your senators and let them know you expect them to uphold the federal government’s trust responsibility to tribal nations. We’ll keep you updated as this process unfolds. Federal budgets are moral documents. These House appropriations bills show what is possible when Native communities lead and when allies show up in support.
