The Navajo Nation

Office of the President

     The Navajo Nation

Office of the President

Executive Order No. 01-2023

Executive Orders

THE NAVAJO NATION

Executive Order No. 01-2023

RESCINDING EXECUTIVE ORDERS NO. 04-2012 and NO. 04-2021 LIFTING THE REQUIREMENT OF PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL FOR OFF-RESERVATION TRAVEL

WHEREAS:

  1. The President of the Navajo Nation serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Navajo Nation Executive Branch with full authority to conduct, supervise, and coordinate personnel and programmatic matters. 2 N.N.C. § 1005 (A); and
  2. In 2004, President Joe Shirley issued Executive Order No. 02-2004 directing Navajo Nation Executive Branch departments and programs to host their respective conferences, workshops, training sessions, and the like within the territorial boundaries of the Navajo Nation; and
  3. In 2012, President Ben Shelly issued Executive Order No. 04-2012 rescinding Executive Order No. 02-2004 and requiring that the President or a Presidential designee approve all off-reservation travel requests for Division Directors and all off-reservation strategic planning sessions and group meetings/conferences; and
  4. In 2021, President Jonathan Nez issued Executive Order No. 04-2021 ordering that Navajo Nation travel restrictions remain in place due to the spread of COVID-19 in and around the Navajo Nation and restricting all Navajo Nation employees from off-reservation travel; and
  5. In January 2023, the Navajo Department of Health and the Office of Environmental Health and Protection Program issued Public Health Emergency Order No. 2023-001 lifting the indoor mask mandate for the general public and all businesses on the Navajo Nation because of the finding that the risk of COVID-19 transmission is low.
  6. President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya have determined that it is no longer necessary to restrict all Navajo Nation employees from off-reservation travel and it is no longer necessary for the President or his designee to approve off-reservation travel or off-reservation strategic planning sessions and group meetings/conferences.

THEREFORE:

By the power vested in me pursuant to 2 N.N.C. § 1005 (C) (14), I hereby rescind Executive Order No. 04-2012 and Executive Order No. 004-2021. I further clarify that off-reservation travel for Navajo Nation Executive Branch employees is no longer restricted. Furthermore, off-reservation travel and off-reservation strategic planning sessions and group meetings/conferences no longer require the approval of the President or his designee, unless otherwise required by Navajo Law.

I hereby direct the Division Directors to ensure governmental operations remain efficient and cost-effective, and that strategic planning sessions and group meetings/conferences be conducted in such a manner that does not impede services to the Navajo People.

This Executive Order shall become effective immediately.

EXECUTED this 15th day of February 2023.

Dr. Buu Nygren, President

THE NAVAJO NATION

ATTEST:

Ethel Branch, Attorney General

THE NAVAJO NATION

Download Executive Order No. 01-2023 (PDF)