Sep 29, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed Resolution CS-51-26 on Sept. 28 into law securing funding for essential government operations and services while calling on the Navajo Nation Council to act quickly to address remaining funding needs within the Executive Branch.
The measure appropriates $585,064,035 for the Navajo Nation’s FY 2027 operating budget, which begins Oct. 1. For the first time during his administration, President Nygren chose not to exercise his line-item veto authority on the annual Comprehensive Budget.
“Today, I signed the Fiscal Year 2027 Comprehensive Budget into law without exercising my line-item veto authority,” President Nygren said. “The Council ultimately delivered a respectable budget that allows our government to continue operating and our programs to continue serving the Navajo people. I commend the Council delegates who worked through their differences to get us to this point.”
The enacted FY2027 Budget allocates $494,573,684 to the Executive Branch, $20,282,990 to the Legislative Branch, $19,558,115 to the Judicial Branch, and $50,649,246 for fixed costs.
The FY2027 budget also includes $83.3 million in statutory set-asides, including $36.18 million for the Navajo Nation Permanent Fund, $19 million for the Diné Higher Education Grant Fund, $12.06 million for veterans assistance and housing trust funds, $6.03 million for the Navajo Nation Land Acquisition Trust Fund, $6.03 million for the Navajo Nation Remediation Fund, and $2 million each for the Capital Outlay Match Fund and Navajo Nation Water Rights Claims Fund.
The budget also prioritizes personnel. A total of $16.57 million from the Personnel Lapse Savings Account is allocated toward the ERP/HRMS annual subscription, employee step increases and bonus payments, and $7.996 million for occupied positions and fringe shortfalls identified through the unmet-needs process.
In addition to Department of Public Safety funding, $5 million was budgeted toward Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women initiatives and related victim services, data and search-and-rescue efforts. Funding includes $1.5 million for Northern Arizona Victim Witness Services through the Division for Children and Family Services; $1.5 million for Utah Navajo Health System through the Department of Health; $1 million for the Navajo Technical University Data Institute; $500,000 for the Navajo Police Department Missing and Murdered Unit; $300,000 for Office of the Prosecutor Victim Witness Advocates; and $200,000 for Four Corners K-9 Search and Rescue through emergency management.
The resolution identifies the importance of maintaining uninterrupted services including law enforcement, criminal investigations, emergency management, services for children and families, and Chapter operations among others.
However, President Nygren emphasized that signing the Comprehensive Budget does not resolve every funding issue facing Navajo Nation government. Several Executive Branch departments and programs still lack sufficient operating funds, and the President is asking the Council to convene as soon as possible to address those needs.
“We still need the Council to fund several Executive Branch Departments and Programs that lack operating funds,” President Nygren wrote. “In genuine good faith, I am asking that the Council to come back to the table and work with us to fully fund those operations. Together, we can ensure the Navajo people continue to receive the services they depend on.”
President Nygren also emphasized the importance of preparing Navajo Nation government for the upcoming transition.
“We need to ensure that the next administration that comes in is fully funded and has the resources they need to do the work they need to do,” President Nygren added.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council approved the Comprehensive Budget on Sept. 18 by a 17-4 vote.
Sep 26, 2026 | News
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes, was formally sworn in as Director of the Indian Health Service during a ceremony in San Diego, with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. administering the oath of office.
Cruz now leads the Indian Health Service, which provides health services to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives from 575 federally recognized Tribes. He is the 12th Director of IHS and will serve a four-year term.
During the ceremony, Klamath Tribal Council member Brandon Tupper spoke about Cruz’s roots in Klamath Falls and the significance of having a Tribal citizen who understands Native communities serving in the role. Tupper emphasized that health care for Native people is rooted in the federal trust responsibility and highlighted the challenges ahead, including staffing, facilities, funding and the daily needs of Tribal health facilities.
Secretary Kennedy administered the oath using Cruz’s grandmother’s Bible.
“Today is just a formality because Mark has been running Indian Health Services for the past two years,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said he sought a leader who could navigate the federal bureaucracy, break through barriers, work with Congress and advocate for Tribal communities. He described Cruz as someone who “will not ever give up and just get things done.”
Kennedy also praised Cruz’s work leading up to his formal swearing-in.
“As many great people as I have, there is none better at this job than what Mark is doing,” Kennedy said. “I’m so proud of all the accomplishments.”
Cruz will also continue serving as Senior Advisor for Native Affairs to Secretary Kennedy, strengthening the connection between Tribal nations and federal health leadership while leading IHS.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren attended the ceremony in San Diego to witness Director Cruz take the oath of office. President Nygren serves as the primary Navajo Area delegate to the HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, where he continues to advocate for Navajo health care priorities directly with federal health leadership.
Sep 25, 2026 | News
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined tribal leaders and federal health officials for discussions focused on strengthening tribal health systems, expanding self-governance, improving access to federal resources and ensuring tribal priorities are represented in public health policy.
President Nygren, who serves as the Navajo Area primary delegate on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, attended alongside Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Sherylene Yazzie, the Navajo Area alternate delegate.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted federal efforts involving Indian Health Service workforce recruitment, healthcare infrastructure, traditional healing, rural physician training and tribal self-governance.
“We’re completely reliant on you to give us the ideas because we don’t want to be dictating things,” Secretary Kennedy told tribal leaders. “We need you to tell us what we can do for you.”
President Nygren thanked federal leadership for its engagement with Indian Country and specifically raised Navajo priorities, including moving the Gallup Indian Medical Center replacement project forward, addressing staff quarters and supporting the Navajo Nation’s 99-bed treatment facility in Phoenix.
“Thank you for living up to that commitment,” President Nygren told Secretary Kennedy. “I really want to say, on behalf of the Navajo Nation, the Navajo people, thank you.”
The meeting also included extensive discussion about direct federal funding for tribes, emergency preparedness, public health workforce shortages, tribal data sovereignty, the 340B Drug Pricing Program and expanding tribal self-governance beyond IHS.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Erica Schwartz emphasized strengthening government-to-government relationships with tribal nations, improving emergency readiness and giving tribal priorities greater visibility within CDC leadership.
Throughout the meeting, tribal leaders called for meaningful consultation, more flexible funding, timely access to health data and greater tribal authority to develop culturally grounded solutions that meet the needs of their communities.
Sep 23, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren signed a $446,874.90 contract on Sept. 18 with Navajo Technology Services to provide new desktop computer systems to 110 Navajo Nation chapter library locations in Arizona and New Mexico.
Through the Navajo Nation Broadband Office, the project will provide one business-class desktop computer system for each chapter library location. The contract includes computers, monitors, keyboards, mice and uninterruptible power supplies, along with software and delivery services.
The systems are required to include Windows 11 Professional, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome. The project budget also includes three-year Microsoft software and antivirus licensing. Each computer will come with warranty coverage, and the contractor is required to deliver, unbox and confirm that each system is operational at its respective chapter location.
By placing updated computer equipment directly in chapter libraries, the project strengthens the technology available at these local facilities and provides standardized, current-generation equipment across all 110 locations.
The contract requires all 110 systems to be delivered and accepted no later than Nov. 30, 2026. Following final delivery, a complete inventory of the equipment will also be provided to the Navajo Nation Broadband Office.
“Our chapter libraries serve our communities, and we want to make sure they have reliable, modern technology available,” said President Nygren. “These 110 new computer systems are an investment in strengthening resources at the local level.”
Sep 23, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK – Navajo families in New Mexico are a step closer to stronger, more reliable water infrastructure after Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren recently signed five agreements securing $7.45 million for waterline construction and improvements.
The agreements provide funding for projects ranging from improvements to an existing regional water system in Huerfano to major community waterline construction in Coyote Canyon, Thoreau and Iyanbito.
“Every one of these agreements represents another investment in our families and communities,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren. “We are bringing $7.45 million into the Navajo Nation and putting those dollars toward something our people need every single day – water. Our work now is to keep these projects moving so these investments become waterlines in the ground and reliable infrastructure for our families.”
The five agreements include:
(1) Coyote Canyon Chapter – $5.7 million: Funding for the Coyote Canyon Community Waterline Project, including labor, materials, equipment, professional design services, coordination and construction necessary to complete the community waterline.
(2) Iyanbito Chapter – $1.2 million: Funding for the Iyanbito Waterlines project to support labor, materials, equipment and other work necessary for community waterline construction.
(3) Iyanbito Chapter – $300,000: A separate capital outlay investment for construction of a community waterline.
(4) Thoreau Chapter – $200,000: Funding to advance the Thoreau Regional 371 Water Supply Project and construction of a community waterline.
(5) Huerfano Chapter – $50,000: Funding for the Carson-Burnham Regional Water System to support waterline replacement and other improvements intended to increase flow capacity, improve system reliability and provide a more dependable water supply for Huerfano, Burnham and surrounding communities.
The funding comes through the State of New Mexico and will be administered by the Navajo Nation Division of Community Development through its Capital Projects Management Department.
“For too long, Navajo families have lived with inadequate water infrastructure or without running water altogether,” President Nygren said. “These are not just numbers on agreements. This is $7.45 million that can be turned into pipes, construction and infrastructure in our communities. That is the outcome we are working toward.”
The Coyote Canyon, Thoreau and Iyanbito projects are scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2026, with completion anticipated by June 30, 2030. The Huerfano funding will support improvements to the Carson-Burnham Regional Water System, including portions of existing distribution waterlines.
President Nygren said partnerships with the State of New Mexico have been critical to addressing the Navajo Nation’s infrastructure needs.
“I want to send my sincerest thanks to New Mexico Indian Affairs Department Cabinet Secretary Josett Monette for being a strong partner to the Navajo Nation,” said President Nygren. “Secretary Monette understands the needs of our communities and has been instrumental in helping move projects forward across the Nation.”
President Nygren also thanked the New Mexico Legislature, the Indian Affairs Department, Navajo Nation Division of Community Development and the chapters and staff who have worked to advance the projects.
“We appreciate everyone who helped bring these agreements to my desk, but signing them is not the finish line,” President Nygren said. “Our people need these projects completed. We will continue working with our partners to move these dollars into construction and deliver the infrastructure our communities have waited for.”
Sep 21, 2026 | News
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren secured another major separation-of-powers victory after the Window Rock Judicial District Court permanently blocked two Navajo Nation Council resolutions that sought to place core Executive Branch responsibilities under Legislative Branch control.
In its Sept. 14 order, the Court permanently prohibited Speaker Crystalyne Curley, the Navajo Nation Council and their agents and employees from advancing Council Resolutions CJA-07-26 and CJA-09-26—or legislation seeking the same or similar results.
“This ruling is bigger than one president or one administration,” President Nygren said. “It preserves the authority of the Executive Branch for every Navajo president who follows me, while making clear that the Legislative Branch cannot give itself powers that belong to the Executive Branch. The separation of powers means more than keeping our branches distinct on paper – it means ensuring that neither branch can take control of the responsibilities the Navajo people entrusted to another.”
CJA-07-26 sought to alter the powers and duties of the Office of the President and Vice President, including its authority over senior Executive Branch personnel and the Navajo Nation Department of Justice. CJA-09-26 sought to restrict presidential appointment authority involving the Navajo Board of Education.
President Nygren vetoed both resolutions. Legislation was later introduced to override his vetoes.
The Court, however, found that Navajo Nation presidents have a legally protected interest in operating the Executive Branch without improper Legislative Branch interference. Citing Shirley v. Morgan, the Court emphasized that Navajo law prohibits the concentration of governmental power within a single branch.
The Court also recognized k’é as a guiding principle requiring the branches to work together for the benefit of the Navajo people.
“Let’s call this what it was – a power grab by Speaker Curley and the Council to place the Executive Branch under Legislative Branch control,” President Nygren said. “The Court stopped it. No speaker and no council have the authority to rewrite our government’s structure or seize powers the Navajo people entrusted to another branch. The Executive Branch belongs to the Navajo people – not to the Speaker, the Council or any one administration.”
The Court found that the resolutions would have substantially altered Executive Branch operations. They would have restricted senior personnel decisions, required political approval before entering legal settlements and interfered with the Navajo Nation Department of Justice’s ability to respond to major litigation.
The permanent injunction further bars the Council from placing the resolutions on an agenda, amending an agenda to include them, voting on them or otherwise advancing them. It also prohibits legislation seeking the same or similar results.
The ruling follows an August court decision permanently blocking legislation that sought to remove President Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya from office.
President Nygren said the latest ruling should end attempts to weaken the Executive Branch and allow both branches to return their attention to the Navajo people.
“We have spent too much time fighting over political power while our people are asking for water, homes, roads, public safety and basic services,” President Nygren said. “The Court has spoken. It reinforced what we already know from the Supreme Court’s decision in Shirley v. Morgan. I respect these decisions, and I call on the Council to respect these decisions as well.”
