In his fiscal year 2011 budget, President Barack Obama is seeking a 25 percent reduction in Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act grants, Indian Country Today reports.

Congress appropriated $2.3 million for grants to tribes, Native Hawaiians and museums. But the National Park Service budget only includes $1.75 million next year.

“It would be one thing if Congress didn’t want to support this successful program,” Colin Kippen, a former chairman of the NAGPRA Review Committee, told ICT. “But why is the agency that knows all too well the importance of these grants trying to reduce the amount available to tribes, Native Hawaiians and museums?"

According to a 2008 report from the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, NPS diverted more than $3 million in NAGPRA grant money to other purposes.

Get the Story:
NAGPRA suffers surprising proposed budget cut (Indian Country Today 2/7)

FY2011 Budget:
National Park Service | Full DOI Budget

NATHPO Report:
Federal Agency Implementation Of NAGPRA (June 2008)

Related Stories:
More than $3 million in NAGPRA grants diverted (8/15)