Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren delivered his FY2026 Budget Message to the 25th Navajo Nation Council today, outlining a disciplined, data-driven budget plan while raising serious concerns about funding cuts that could threaten essential services across the Executive Branch.
President Nygren expressed concern with the base planning amounts outlined in Legislation 0059-25, noting that the Executive Branch’s FY2026 allocation is $14 million lower than previous years and more than $9.3 million below FY2024 actual spending. He urged the Council to recognize that such cuts “put our ability to sustain essential services at risk.”
“My administration has grounded our FY2026 planning in actual FY24 expenditures to protect critical services and prioritize impact over unspent personnel costs,” Nygren stated. “We’re not playing politics—this is about stability and delivering for our people.”
Despite fiscal constraints, the President’s message laid out key funding proposals that reflect direct input from communities and chapter leaders. Among the Administration’s top requests:
$100 million for the continued renovation, replacement, and enhancement of senior centers;
$50 million for second-generation relocatees, including $2 million for homesite lease assistance;
$45 million to rebuild Diné College following a recent fire and restore educational infrastructure;
$10 million for a new Oljato Chapter House to support one of the Nation’s most remote communities;
$25 million to launch a Navajo government employee student loan repayment program, with $1.5 million set aside annually for 10 years;
$12.4 million to reauthorize the Higher Education Grant Set-Aside, supporting Diné College, NTU, and student financial aid;
$43.7 million to strengthen the Navajo Division of Transportation, including road grader replacements, FHWA project gaps, road maintenance yards, and restriping BIA routes;
$9.25 million for a comprehensive Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) response, including a new MMIP unit within the Navajo Police Department, victim services, K-9 search and rescue support, and community outreach.
President Nygren commended Executive Director Sherylene Yazzie of the Department of Health for advancing senior center implementation efforts and Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty for her leadership in addressing the MMIP crisis.
“These are not just budget lines—these are the needs our people are expressing every day,” Nygren said. “This message is not about survival. It’s about giving our people pride in what their government can do.”
The President closed by urging the Council to pass a budget that protects services, honors commitments to the most vulnerable, and reflects the full potential of the Navajo Nation. “Let us show our people that government can work—and when we lead together, we deliver together,” Nygren said.
