Trump Proposal Would Slash Funding for Native American Abuse Investigations
By Cherokee 411 Staff
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to slash funding for federal programs investigating abuse and neglect in Native American communities, prompting sharp criticism from tribal leaders and advocates.
A new policy proposal released by the White House this week outlines plans to eliminate funding for tribal components of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and reduce support for the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services. The administration says the cuts are part of a broader strategy to curb “wasteful spending” and redirect resources toward “core American priorities.”
Tribal leaders say the cuts would severely weaken systems designed to protect Native children and families, many of whom already face disproportionately high rates of abuse, trafficking, and neglect.
“This proposal is both dangerous and disrespectful,” said Fawn Sharp, president of the National Congress of American Indians. “It threatens the safety of our children and erodes the federal government’s legal and moral obligations to tribal nations.”
The Indian Child Welfare Act, passed in 1978, was created to stop the systematic removal of Native children from their homes and communities. The law is considered a cornerstone of tribal sovereignty and child protection, particularly in remote and under-resourced regions where federal support is critical.
The Trump administration contends the programs are redundant and ineffective. In a statement, the White House said the reforms are aimed at “returning power to local governments and eliminating bureaucratic overlap.”
But tribal leaders and lawmakers argue the move signals a disregard for Native sovereignty and decades of efforts to address injustices faced by Indigenous children.
“The federal government made a promise to our people, and this is a betrayal of that promise,” said Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kan., one of the few Native Americans serving in Congress.
The proposed cuts would need congressional approval and are likely to face fierce opposition from tribal advocates and many Democrats. Still, tribal communities fear the move sets a troubling precedent as the administration reshapes federal-tribal relations.
Sources: Reporting from News 10 and AP News, and other credible outlets contributed to this story.
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