As we barrel toward another potential government shut down, communities across the country are trying to assess its potential impact. For Tribal governments, it impacts just about every facet of life due to their nation-to-nation relationship with the federal government and the wide range of federal funding that supports everything from healthcare to education, and other basic needs. While some Americans only worry about getting into a national park, Tribal communities worry about everything from individual family income to vital services in their communities.  

Here are 5 things philanthropy needs to know about how government shutdowns affect Tribal communities: 

  1. Shutdowns violate treaty obligations
    In exchange for the lands ceded to the United States, Tribes were promised a wide range of basic services. These services include basic healthcare, education, food, and other vital resources.
  2. Vital resources are at risk
    As a result of the shutdown, Tribal education could be adversely affected. According to the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), there are currently 183 federal and tribally run schools elementary and secondary schools located on 64 reservations in 23 states, serving approximately 46,000 tribal students. Students often rely on school nutrition programs for their daily meals and support services such as tutoring, counseling, and special education services may be understaffed or funded. HeadStart programming could also be halted, which is a vital programming service for young children in communities.
  3. Many Tribal members rely on federal employment
    American Indian/Alaska Native employees represent 1.6 percent (31,206) of the permanent Federal workforce as of September 2020 could be furloughed. This number does not include contractors to the federal government supporting vital programs and services who may not receive back pay.
  4. Increased threats to public safety
    In past shutdowns, already under-resourced BIA funded tribal police and other safety officials were furloughed without pay or forced to work without pay as essential employees.
  5. Tribal governments are left covering the shortfall
    When federal funding stops, Tribes have to step in, and most are not in a position to do so. Tribes do not have tax bases and rely day-to-day on federal funding streams in most cases. Tribes are often left filling shortfalls with whatever reserves they have, but this can have lasting impacts on tribal finances the longer a shutdown continues.

Read the full article about government shutdowns impact Tribal communities by Erik Stegman at Native Americans in Philanthropy.