Division of Workforce Development

About the 477 Program

Public Law 102-477 (usually referred to simply as “477”) is the Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act (25 U.S.C. 3401 et seq). It was passed in 1992 and has been amended twice since its inception, in 2017 by Public Law 115-93 and again in 2000 by Public Law 106-568. The Program’s primary goal is to reduce administrative time and costs for Federal Recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations so they can more effectively deliver workforce development and job training programs. This is achieved by consolidating multiple funding streams and reporting requirements, thus affording more support for job placements and case management activities.

In 2022, a Memorandum of Agreement was implemented by 12 federal partners. This has increased the number of Federally Recognized Tribes interested in participating in 477 programs. The Federal programs integrated into Tribal PL 102-477 Plans are administered by the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education); the Department of Labor (Division of Indian and Native American Programs); and the Department of Health and Human Services (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care and Development Fund, Native Employment Works and Community Service Block Grants).

In FY24, BIA facilitated the funding transfer of $346 million to 477 Program Tribes. As of December 2024, there are 83 approved Tribal 477 Plans that represent 303 Federally Recognized Tribes and include 603 individual lines of funding streams to Tribes and Tribal Organizations.