My Navajo People,
I must set the record straight that there is no $24 million missing from any Navajo Nation account. Recently, I have been repeatedly asked by community members, “WHERE IS THE $24 MILLION?” I do not take this question lightly.
I believe this question originated on the Navajo Nation Council floor during my State of the Navajo Nation address last Monday, July 21st. Multiple Council delegates made statements that suggested that my staff and I have misplaced $24 million associated with the Nation’s business relationship with ZenniHome, L.L.C. (ZenniHome).
Let me be clear – $24 million did not go missing from the Navajo Nation. There are two different pots of money regarding ZenniHome.
First, in March 2024, ZenniHome was awarded a $24 million grant to expand its manufacturing facility in LeChee, AZ. But because other communities within the Nation objected to the use of these funds, I chose to terminate the grant to ZenniHome. The $24 million grant would have been administered to ZenniHome. However, this $24 million grant was never released and has always been safely in the Navajo Nation’s account.
Second, as part of a larger contract awarded to multiple housing vendors, the Nation hired a Navajo woman-owned firm called Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, L.L.C. (IDSA) to build 160 homes for the Nation. In accordance with the contract, the Nation paid $24.9 million, up front to IDSA. The Navajo Nation Department of Justice (DOJ) and all other necessary departments and offices approved this contract in writing. IDSA then subcontracted ZenniHome to build those homes for our people.
A variety of factors led the Navajo’s Division of Community Development (DCD) to conclude that it was in the best interest of the Navajo Nation to reduce the IDSA/ZenniHome work order by half – from 160 homes to 80 homes. My administration expects IDSA and ZenniHome to deliver the 80 homes the Nation paid for.
In short, $24 million never went missing.
My intention is to be transparent with the people who put me in office and to do good work for the Navajo people, and I have no interest in allowing my housing initiative to become political fodder. Our people didn’t elect us to spread jini and hearsay — they elected us to pass laws that improve lives.
If DOJ opens an investigation, I will comply because I believe in government stability and transparency for the Navajo people. I have nothing to hide, and there is no question in my mind that the Executive Branch took all required steps to comply with all legal, administrative, and financial review processes. This includes the 164 review, which includes a review from the Controller’s office, the Department of Justice, and my own legal team. We take great care to operate in compliance with all applicable regulatory, business, and procurement laws and policies.
I trust that the Navajo DOJ will rely on concepts of Navajo Fundamental Law, which are grounded in the concepts of K’é and Naa’bik’íyáti in deciding how to move forward.
In the meantime, my Executive Branch will continue working tirelessly toward our goal to bring homes and essential services to the Navajo people.
Ahéhee’.
Dr. Buu Nygren, President