As we navigate the complexities of our nation's fiscal realities, President Trump and his Administration are working to enhance government efficiency while upholding trust and treaty obligations across Indian Country. Our objective is to streamline operations while minimizing any potential impact on the quality of services provided to Tribes. To that end, Indian Affairs -which includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration (BTFA), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs seeks to engage directly with federally recognized Tribes to receive formal input on critical needs as we develop plans to implement operational improvements. Indian Affairs and other agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) remain committed to fulfilling our responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
On February 11, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) 14210 establishing the "Department of Government Efficiency" Workforce Optimization Initiative, which aims to reform the Federal workforce to maximize efficiency and productivity. Under this directive, each agency is required to develop an Agency Reorganization Plan. In support of this effort, the Department is committed to receiving formal consultation feedback from Tribes regarding the EO and related topics.
*Additional Tribal Consultation Topic in Response to Emergency Permitting Procedures Under National Energy Emergency Declaration
The Department has requested that Indian Affairs include an additional topic in its upcoming Tribal consultations related to EO 14210 concerning the Department’s emergency permitting procedures, announced on April 23, 2025, in response to the National Energy Emergency declared by President Donald J. Trump.
The declaration of a National Energy Emergency recognizes that current delays in energy project approvals pose significant risks to the nation’s economic stability, national security, and foreign policy interests. In response, the Department will utilize emergency authorities under existing regulations for the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. The procedures outlined below, will significantly enable faster permitting timelines—reducing processes that typically take several months or years to just weeks.
- National Environmental Policy Act: The Department will be adopting an alternative National Environmental Policy Act compliance process to allow for more concise documents and a compressed timeline.
- Projects analyzed in an environmental assessment, normally taking up to one year, will now be reviewed within approximately 14 days.
- Projects requiring a full environmental impact statement, typically a two-year process, will be reviewed in roughly 28 days.
- Endangered Species Act: An expedited Section 7 consultation process will be implemented, which involves the appropriate bureau notifying the Fish and Wildlife Service that it is using emergency consultation procedures. Following such notification, the appropriate bureau can then proceed with deciding whether to approve the action.
- National Historic Preservation Act: Bureaus will follow alternative procedures for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for proposed undertakings responding to the energy emergency, which include notifying the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, and any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization that may attach religious and cultural significance to historic properties likely to be affected by a proposed undertaking and affording them an opportunity to comment within seven days of the notification. Following that notification and comment period, the appropriate bureau will take into account any comments received and then decide whether to approve the proposed undertaking.
***PLEASE NOTE*** Beginning May 7, 2025, all adults 18 and older will need to present REAL ID-compliant state-issued identification or other acceptable ID to enter most federal facilities.
Invitation
Consultation Materials
Sessions
Comment Deadline
We welcome your written comments, which must be submitted either by email to consultation@bia.gov, or by mail to the Department of the Interior, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 229, Albuquerque, NM 87104,
by 11:59 pm ET on Monday, July 7, 2025.
