Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren responded to the June 8 statement released by the Navajo Nation Council titled, “President Nygren and Chief Legal Counsel Becker fail to appear for investigatory hearing.”
The characterization by the Navajo Nation Council that I—as President—and other Navajo Nation employees “failed to appear” at the Budget and Finance Committee hearing regarding housing contracts involving ZenniHomes and Indigenous Design Studio + Architects is wholly inaccurate and another example of dishonesty from the President’s detractors.
The Navajo Nation Department of Justice formally advised all subpoenaed Navajo Nation employees not to attend or testify after it determined that the DOJ had not been provided with the necessary information regarding the subpoenas, including a list of affected clients and individuals.
To ensure consistent legal guidance and protect the interests of all Navajo Nation governmental entities and employees, DOJ issued an attorney-client memorandum and subsequent notice directing employees not to participate until a resolution of these legal concerns was reached. Compliance with DOJ’s legal advice should never be misconstrued as a refusal to cooperate or an attempt to avoid accountability.
Rather than presenting the facts, the Council chose to advance a misleading narrative designed to generate headlines, inflame public suspicion, and create the false impression of misconduct where none has been established. The Navajo people deserve honest oversight rooted in facts and the law—not political theater disguised as accountability.
The Nygren Administration remains committed to transparency, due process, and adherence to the law and will continue to address these matters through the appropriate legal channels.
To review the DOJ memo, visit:
https://nnemaildist.navajo-nsn.gov/Portals/0/Announcements/2026/Jun/2026-06-08%20Signed%20Memo%20to%20DIT%20re%20Mass%20Email%20to%20NN.pdf
