Office of the Navajo Nation President

THE NAVAJO NATION

President Buu Van Nygren

Office of the Navajo Nation President

THE NAVAJO NATION

President Nygren

Executive Order No. 01-2026: Hardship Assistance Program

Jan 19, 2026 | Executive Orders

Hardship Assistance

THE 2026 NAVAJO NATION HARDSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

WHEREAS:

  1. The President of the Navajo Nation serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Executive Branch of the Navajo Nation govemment with full authority to conduct, supervise, and coordinate personnel and program matters. 2 N.N.C. §1005(A);
  2. The President of the Navajo Nation holds the fiduciary responsibility for the proper and efficient operation of all Executive Branch offices;
  3. The President shall have the enumerated power of issuing an executive order for the purpose of interpreting, implementing or giving administrative effect to statutes of the Navajo Nation in the manner set forth in such statutes. 2 N.N.C. §1005(C)(14);
  4. On June 17, 2024 President Nygren signed into law Resolution CMY-28-24 which automatically reallocated any and all Navajo Nation Fiscal Recovery Funds that were not obligated by November 1, 2024 to the Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan without the need for legislative action.
  5. On December 24,2024, President Nygren signed into law Resolution CD-54-24. which states that there is $5,623,603 of NNFRF that was not obligated by the Navajo Nation’s intemal deadline.
  6. On December 30,2024 Presidenl Nygren and Speaker Curley entered into an Inter-Agency Agreement (“The Agreement”) on behalf of the Executive Branch and the Navajo Nation Council. The Agreement which governs “All Remaining Navajo Nation Fiscal Recovery Funds” recognizes that $5,623,603 is allocated to OOC for the Hardship Assistance Expenditure Plan with the purpose “to provide assistance to eligible Navajos who can demonstrate economic harm due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
  7. Many Navajo people continue to experience flnancial hardship due to the rising cost of living caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  8. An executive order shall have the force of law upon the recipient 2 N.N.C. §1005(C)(14);

THEREFORE:

I, DR. BUU NYGREN, PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION, hereby order that Navajo Nation Executive Divisions, Departments, Commissions, Offices and Programs shall implement the 2026 Navajo Nation Hardship Assistance Program by taking the following actions:

  1. The Office of the Controller shall submit a report to the Office of the President & Vice President identifying the funds available for the 2026 Navajo Nation Hardship Assistance Program no later than January 31, 2026.
  2. The Office ol the Controller shall work with the relevant departments, programs, or offices to develop the 2026 Navajo Nation Hardship Assistance Program eligibility criteria and deadlines no later than February 1, 2026.
  3. No later than March 1, 2025, the Office of the Controller shall submit a written report outlining how the 2026 Navajo Nation Hardship Assistance Program will be executed, including whether the program will be executed in-house. or whether a firm will be hired, and the application procedures and deadlines.
  4. The 2026 Navajo Nation Hardship Assislance Program shall have a public “go-live” date of no later than June 1, 2026. meaning the application portal will be open and operalional to take public applications by this date.

EXECUTED THIS 13TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026.

Dr. Buu Nygren, President
THE NAVAJO NATION

ATTEST:
Office of the Attorney General
THE NAVAJO NATION

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