Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations To Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination

This executive order directs federal agencies to reform how they administer funding and programs for Tribal Nations, with the goal of reducing bureaucratic burdens, increasing flexibility, and better fulfilling trust responsibilities. It mandates a multi-year assessment of unmet federal obligations led by OMB and the Domestic Policy Advisor, and requires agencies to streamline application processes, respect Tribal data sovereignty, and promote self-governance through compacts and co-management agreements.

Federal Register Open PDF 88 FR 86021

Impact dates

Date TBD
Annual agency progress reports to OMB begin; OMB summaries to Tribal leaders at White House Tribal Nations Summit
Date TBD
Recommendations submitted to President and considered in next regular President's Budget development cycle
Date TBD
WHCNAA annual convening for best practices and progress tracking begins
May 29, 2025
WHCNAA member agency heads submit reports identifying funding needs for existing programs
Aug 2, 2024
OMB and Domestic Policy Advisor develop guidance for assessing additional funding needs

Key directives

OMB and Domestic Policy Advisor to develop guidance for assessing agency funding shortfalls within 240 days
WHCNAA member agency heads to submit reports identifying needed funding within 540 days
OMB and Domestic Policy Advisor to develop recommendations for budgetary/statutory/regulatory changes, to be considered in next President's Budget cycle
WHCNAA Executive Director to convene annual best-practice sharing and progress tracking after initial reports submitted
WHCNAA member agencies to report annually to OMB on progress; OMB to summarize for Tribal leaders at annual White House Tribal Nations Summit
Agencies to design/revise/administer programs to promote compacting, contracting, co-management, co-stewardship with Tribal Nations
Agencies to identify and establish Tribal set-asides where appropriate
Agencies to consolidate and streamline application and reporting criteria
Agencies to provide exceptions/accommodations for Tribal capacity limitations
Agencies to maximize flexibility of Federal funding for training, administrative costs, and personnel
Agencies to remove or reduce matching/cost-sharing requirements where they unduly burden Tribal Nations
Agencies to respect Tribal data sovereignty and allow self-certified data where permitted by statute

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Agencies to begin coordinating with WHCNAA on implementation
Agencies to begin designing/revising programs per Section 5(a) objectives

Near term (90d)

OMB and Domestic Policy Advisor to develop guidance for assessing funding shortfalls (by 240 days)

Long term

Agency reports on funding needs due (540 days)
Annual progress reporting to Tribal leaders at White House Tribal Nations Summit
Ongoing integration of Tribal responsiveness into agency missions and training

Risks & tensions

Implementation contingent on 'to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with applicable law' — significant wiggle room for agencies
No new appropriations mandated; Section 6(b) explicitly subjects implementation to 'availability of appropriations'
Section 6(d) disclaims creating any enforceable rights, potentially limiting Tribal legal recourse
540-day timeline for agency reports extends well into next presidential term, creating completion risk if administration changes
Centralized funding directory (Section 5(e)) requires sustained inter-agency coordination that may degrade without high-level attention
Vague: 'next regular President's Budget development cycle' for recommendations is not precisely dated