Indian Affairs Leadership Engages USDA and Tribal Coalition on Shared Priorities

On December 8, 2025, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs William Kirkland and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development Ken Bellmard met with representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Coalition of Large Tribes to advance shared priorities across Indian Country.

The meeting reaffirmed the federal trust responsibility, with Assistant Secretary Kirkland emphasizing a commitment to open-door engagement, transparency, and sustained communication with all federally recognized tribes. A key focus was addressing the probate backlog through expanded estate planning, modernization of legacy systems using secure, AI-enabled tools, and stronger partnerships to collect vital records earlier, helping prevent delays and improve outcomes. Kirkland also underscored the importance of protecting tribal data as Indian Affairs deploys new technology solutions.

Public safety was another major topic, including efforts to combat violent crime, illegal drug activity, and the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Kirkland reiterated that strengthening tribal law enforcement remains a top priority for President Trump and Secretary Burgum, supported by improved funding, resources, and policy alignment.

The conversation also highlighted bison restoration efforts. Indian Affairs has facilitated the transfer of over 10,000 bison from federal herds to tribal lands in recent years and is working with USDA to expand tribal food processing capacity, supporting healthier Indigenous communities. Sovereignty and self-governance were reinforced as guiding principles, with commitments to efficient resource use, support for tribes seeking to assume governance functions, improvements to the Tribal Energy Resource Agreement process, and updates on wildland fire restructuring, including completed consultations and an open public comment period through December 19.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bellmard emphasized economic development as central to revitalizing Indian Country, with job creation and family-sustaining wages as key measures of success. He outlined efforts to streamline energy development through proactive engagement by the Indian Energy Resource Center and use of Tribal Energy Resource Agreements to advance tribal energy sovereignty.

Bellmard also reaffirmed that clearing the probate backlog is a top priority, built on three pillars: embedding probate as a core mission within BIA culture, deploying secure and responsible technology to enhance efficiency without compromising legal integrity, and strengthening early coordination on vital records. He concluded by affirming that self-governance must remain tribe-driven, with BIA serving as a responsive and forward-thinking partner to willing tribes.