A new USDA rule weakens environmental review and strips the public from decision-making on Forest Service lands. Now is the time to speak up.| Winter Wildlands Alliance
After the House Approves Their Budget Reconciliation Bill, the Senate Begins Work on Their Bill The House of Representatives narrowly approved their budget reconciliation bill, One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), on May 22, 2025. The budget reconciliation bill included individual bills from eight different House committees. The final bill addressed several of the […] The post July Native Child and Family Policy Update appeared first on NICWA.| NICWA
From snowy solstice hikes to Capitol Hill meetings, we’ve been hard at work defending wild snowscapes across the country. The post Policy Update – June 2025 appeared first on Winter Wildlands Alliance.| Winter Wildlands Alliance
To implement the President’s deregulatory initiatives under Executive Order 14192 and Executive Order 14219, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning the largest deregulatory effort in the history of the department. To facilitate these efforts, HHS published a Request for Information to elicit public comment from all interested parties on how to […] The post Closing Soon: HHS is Seeking Public Comments on Deregulation appeared first on NICWA.| NICWA
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs announced virtual Tribal listening sessions on HHS reorganization July 16 and 17, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET each day. These listening sessions will provide an opportunity for Tribal leaders to collectively share their feedback and priorities […]| NICWA
Investing in Tribal programs that support early intervention and prevention of child abuse and neglect have far-reaching implications for the well-being of Native children, families, and communities. However, the current federal investment in child welfare has long been skewed towards crisis interventions, perpetuating a cycle of ineffective interventions and repeated contacts with the child welfare […]| NICWA
On May 9, 2025, NICWA sent a letter to several members of the House Ways and Means Committee in response to concerns that the committee might eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) and to make significant cuts to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding. The letter outlines specific examples of how Tribes use […] The post NICWA Letter to Preserve Critical Services to Native Children and Families in Budget Reconciliation appeared first on NICWA.| NICWA
Last Friday, May 2, President Trump released his budget request for fiscal year 2026. The President’s budget request came in the form of a “skinny budget” which covers all federal departments and agencies in one document. The skinny budget means it has less detail than a typical budget request which includes individual agency budgets that […] The post President Trump Releases FY 2026 Budget Request with Cuts to Tribal Human Service Programs appeared first on NICWA.| NICWA
Each year, the National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) identifies policy priorities that guide our efforts and focus our resources during the calendar year. These annual priorities are developed with input from our board, staff, and tribal constituents. They reflect our mission, ongoing commitments, and assessment of opportunities to improve services and resources for American […]| NICWA
The National Indian Child Welfare Association signed on to a letter with the Coalition for Tribal Sovereignty to express our deep concern regarding reports that the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request may propose eliminating several critical programs important to Indian Country that are operated by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This letter […]| NICWA
As the Trump Administration moves quickly to enact its policy agenda, tribal and urban Native human service programs are already seeing the early effects—and anticipating more to come. Executive orders and directives issued since January 2025 span a wide range of issues, from workforce and federal funding to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and beyond. […]| NICWA
Hot Topics Trump Administration Executive Orders Causing Concern in Indian Country Starting with President Trump’s first day in office on January 20, 2025, his administration began issuing numerous Executive Orders and other policies that are expanding the scope of the Executive Branches authority in the federal government and challenging constitutional norms regarding the powers of […]| NICWA
This past month has seen some big news in the policy world, with important connections to all of our work.| Winter Wildlands Alliance
New rule strengthens our bedrock environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act.| Winter Wildlands Alliance