October 6, 2022

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that it is establishing an Office of Native American Partnerships within the Office of the Commissioner. The Office will elevate and centralize efforts to administer comprehensive SSA programs and policies related to Tribal Nations and citizens. It will also serve as the primary point of contact for all Tribal affairs related to SSA activities and programs, coordinate internal agency Tribal efforts, increase external program awareness, and help to recruit a diverse candidate pool for hiring at all levels of SSA. Additionally, the Office will conduct ongoing data collection and analysis to improve outreach to Tribal Nations and citizens.

SSA has not indicated who will be the lead of the Office of Native American Partnerships. Currently, Nancy Berryhill is SSA’s Tribal Consultation Official. USET SPF will provide an update to this Alert once SSA indicates it has announced the hiring or appointment of an individual to lead the Office of Native American Partnerships.

For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.

Established in 2014, the USET Sovereignty Protection Fund (USET SPF) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization advocating on behalf of thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET SPF is dedicated to promoting, protecting, and advancing the inherent sovereign rights and authorities of Tribal Nations and in assisting its membership in dealing effectively with public policy issues.