WASHINGTON, D.C. — With thousands of miles of roads connecting communities across the Navajo Nation, many are still in need of repair, upgrades, or basic infrastructure.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren traveled to Washington, D.C. on April 1, 2026, to advocate for stronger federal support and more efficient processes to meet those critical needs.
Joined by Navajo Nation Department of Transportation Director Tom Platero and Deputy Director Shelby Dayzie, President Nygren met with federal officials as Congress and the Administration consider the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill and future transportation funding for fiscal year 2027 and beyond.
During the visit, President Nygren met with the Director of the Self-Governance Program at the U.S. Department of Transportation Milo Booth and with Assistant Secretary for Tribal Government Affairs James Crawford.
President Nygren raised concerns about lengthy federal permitting processes, especially for projects on Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) roads that are maintained by the Navajo Nation. He shared that these delays often slow down projects, increase costs, and prevent communities from getting the infrastructure they need in a timely manner.
He also highlighted the difficulty in accessing federal transportation funding, noting that the Nation’s size—spanning more than 14,000 miles of roadway—requires funding levels and policies that reflect those realities.
Director Booth shared updates on the Indian Country Highway Safety programs that Assistant Secretary Crawford is spearheading, and some grant funding opportunities that can be expected in the future. Assistant Secretary Crawford also invited President Nygren and NDOT to attend the Tribal Self-Governance Conference happening this week in Arizona to discuss the Navajo Nation participating in the Department of Transportation Self-Governance Program.
