URL: https://www.indianz.com/News/archives/001612.asp

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

The Bush administration is slowly dismantling the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), a tribal consultant said.

Michael Hughes, who researches for the Inter-Tribal Monitoring Association, said the Department of Interior is taking a stealth approach because it encountered intense tribal opposition to BITAM.

"What the department learned is that if you try to do it all at once, people react and congress will slow it down. But they decided to do it piecemeal, sneaking out the pieces,� he told tribal leaders, The Native Times reported.

When the dust settles, Hughes said the only functions BIA will have left will be social services, law enforcement, and the roads. He said the 2004 budget freezes certain trust functions even though there is an overall increase for trust programs.

Get the Story:
Expert says BIA changes more extensive than tribes realize (The Native American Times 9/23)

Relevant Links:
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.ost.doi.gov

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