Editor’s note: The Chairman’s Report will resume in a future issue of Siletz News .
Update on President Trump’s FY 2026 “Skinny Budget” and the potential impacts to tribal programs
proposes unprecedented increases
to the Department of Defense ($1.01
trillion) and Department of Home-
land Security ($175 billion).
The cuts are primarily aligned with
recent Executive Orders aimed at:
• Reducing the size of the federal
workforce
• Empowering states and local dis-
tricts to determine service needs
• Eliminating federal programs
deemed duplicative or inconsis-
tent with new federal priorities,
particularly those focused on
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
President Trump’s FY 2026
“Skinny Budget” proposal, released
on May 2, outlines significant
changes to federal discretionary
spending. The proposal includes a
22.6% decrease in overall discre-
tionary funding, representing $163
billion in cuts across federal agen-
cies. At the same time, the budget
Potential Impacts to
Tribal Programs
Several key areas critical to tribal
nations are likely to be affected,
these include:
Head Start & Education Pro-
grams: Cuts to early childhood and
K–12 funding, including potential
impacts on Bureau of Indian Educa-
tion (BIE) resources.
Environmental Programs:
Proposed reductions in environ-
mental research, climate resiliency,
and funding for agencies like the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may
limit Tribal efforts to protect lands
and adapt to climate change.
Violence Against Women Act
(VAWA): Decreased funding may
severely affect victim services and
justice initiatives that protect Native
women and families.
BIA Self-Governance: Reduc-
tions to Tribal self-governance
funding threaten the exercise of
sovereignty and could compromise
critical services delivered under 638
contracts and compacts.
Public Health and Safety Pro-
grams: Cuts to DOJ and Health &
Human Services programs may limit
law enforcement, behavioral health,
and substance abuse resources for
Tribal communities.
What Comes Next
We continue to monitor devel-
opments in the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees submit-
ting public comments and testimony
on issues that affect Indian Country.
We engage with federal partners
to protect funding tied to trust
and treaty obligations. Our Tribal
Council and staff coordinate with
intertribal organizations such as
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indi-
ans, National Congress of American
Indians and Northwest Portland
Area Indian Health Board to amplify
unified positions.
We will continue to monitor
developments and share as more
details become available. Protecting
Tribal interests during the budget
process remains a top priority.
Elders Council Meeting
The Elders Council will host an in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting
on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Ace’s in Lincoln City, Ore.
If you have any questions, please contact the Elders Program at
541-444-8212.
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information to:
Email: PIAS@ctsi.nsn.us
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
For questions, call
541-444-8293
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Siletz News
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June 2025
Deadline for the July issue is
June 10. Submission of articles
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Please see the Passages
Policy on page 20 when submit-
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