WASHINGTON – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren was joined here by Navajo Nation Council delegates to advocate for needed federal support in public safety, transportation, and education.
At last week’s Tribal Interior Budget Council, Navajo leadership worked to address the sharp decline in federal funding for tribal courts seen in the FY24 appropriations, and a significant reduction in the Bureau of Indian Education construction facility budget.
“Advocating at TIBC is not a choice but a necessity for the Navajo Nation,” President Nygren said. “The recent cuts to our tribal courts and education infrastructure funding are setbacks that undermine our efforts to provide justice and learning in our community.”
Reductions in BIE construction funds result in delays in building repairs and more students in larger classes.
The Navajo Nation’s presence at TIBC is crucial to voice the needs of the largest tribal land in the U.S.
It ensures that federal budget allocations adequately support the essential services to maintain the sovereignty and well-being of the Nation.
“We are here to ensure that the voices and needs of the Navajo people are heard and acted upon with the urgency they deserve,” President Nygren said. “Our presence here is about securing a future where safety and knowledge are accessible to all within the Navajo Nation.”
He said the recent funding reductions threaten the capacity of the Navajo Nation to uphold law and order and provide quality education which are both foundational to the strength and future of the Navajo people.
# # #