Sneak Preview: EO 14112 Seeks To Boost Funding for Tribal Nations
(The following was excerpted from a recent Thompson Grants Compliance Expert article.) President Joe Biden recently issued Executive Order (EO) 14112 calling for the federal government to take various steps to make it easier for tribal nations to receive federal financial assistance, while still respecting tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
“The federal funding that tribal nations rely on comes from myriad sources across the federal government, often with varying and complex application and reporting processes,” according to the EO, noting that some tribal nations do not have capacity and resources to access this funding. “In keeping with our trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations, and our commitment to advancing tribal sovereignty, it is the policy of the U.S. to design and administer federal funding and support programs for tribal nations, consistent with applicable law and to the extent practicable, in a manner that better recognizes and supports tribal sovereignty and self-determination. To realize this policy, the federal government must improve how it approaches the work of administering tribal programs and supporting tribal communities.”
The EO encourages federal agencies to reduce administrative burdens pertaining to federal funding to provide tribal nations “with the greatest possible autonomy.” It also promotes partnerships with tribal nations to better meet the needs of their citizens. “We need to identify any statutory and regulatory changes that are necessary or may be helpful to ensure that federal funding and support programs effectively address the needs of tribal nations, and recommend legislative changes where appropriate,” the EO adds.
The administration is calling for federal agencies to work with the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) to implement the EO, share leading practices and identify opportunities for federal policy reforms that would promote accessible, equitable and flexible administration of federal funding and support programs for tribal nations.
The EO states that OMB and the White House Domestic Policy Advisor, in collaboration with the WHCNAA, should develop by August 2024 guidance for assessing the additional funding each agency needs for its existing federal funding and support programs for tribal nations to enable the federal government to better meet the future needs of tribal nations. The heads of each agency member in WHCNAA by August 2025 should consult this guidance and report to OMB and the domestic policy advisor the amount of funding the agency will need to better meet the needs of federal programs for tribal nations in upcoming budget cycles.
(The full version of this story has now been made available to all for a limited time here.)
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