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Dear USET/USET SPF Family,
The Department of Education has announced that it will host a Tribal consultation on implementation of Executive Order 14112 (E.O. 14112), “Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Self-Determination.” The purpose of this consultation will be to receive input from American Indian and Alaska Native communities on how to increase the flexibility of funding, remove barriers and limitations, and reduce administrative burdens for the Department’s programs consistent with the directives of E.O. 14112. This consultation will be conducted by the Department’s Office of Indian Education and facilitated by the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities.
Details regarding this upcoming Tribal consultation are as follows—
- Date/Time: Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm ET
- Click Here to Register
- Note*: A Tribal Nation may designate information provided during the consultation as “sensitive” and request non-disclosure of the information to the public. As a disclaimer, the Department of Education has indicated that certain federal laws—including the Freedom of Information Act—may require the Department to disclose information provided during this Tribal consultation, even if it was designated as sensitive by a Tribal Nation.
USET SPF continues to remain engaged in these discussions and has previously sent the following Alerts and Tribal Leader Talking Points, as well as a letter to the White House Council on Native American Affairs on implementation of E.O. 14112—
In addition, USET SPF asserts that the funding flexibility mandate of E.O. 14112 must be implemented now. While we celebrate federal agencies’ efforts to rethink and reshape ways to deliver and monitor federal funding for Tribal Nations, federal officials and staff must understand that the Administration has issued a call to action and directives for them to remove barriers now. Agencies must seriously consider Tribal Nations’ requests for specific funding flexibilities to resolve barriers to program and service delivery, or the exercise of Tribal sovereignty. These increased flexibilities will enable more funding to flow directly to Tribal Nations and facilitate the exercise of our inherent sovereignty so that we decide how to direct and spend federal monies in pursuit of Nation rebuilding to support the priorities of our communities.
Written comments in response to the Department of Education’s Tribal consultation on E.O. 14112 are due Thursday, September 19, 2024 and can be sent to TribalConsultation@ed.gov. Questions regarding this Tribal consultation should also be directed to TribalConsultation@ed.gov.
For more information, please contact Brian Howard, USET SPF Senior Policy Analyst, at bhoward@usetinc.org.
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