The 1994 American Indian Trust Reform Act created the Office of Special Trustee. The law also provided for the end of the OST once reform efforts are completed.
According to the Bush administration, progress has been made. But Special Trustee Ross Swimmer, who has held the job since April 2003, "did not sound ready to close up shop" in an interview with the Federal Times.
"By the end of 2009, we should have 95 percent of the conversion work and what I call the reform work done," he says.
"We have several options at this point. We can propose a date, and 30 days before that we’d have to also make a recommendation as to whether the Office of the Special Trustee should remain a permanent office. Obviously, that decision is not going to be made until that time. A lot depends on what we do between now and then," he adds.
Swimmer suggested that OST, as an entity, could remain permanent but without a presidential-level appointee. "When people talk about the special trustee sunsetting, in my mind basically what’s being talked about is me, not what we do," he says.
Get the Story:Ross Swimmer (The Federal Times 2/26) Relevant Links:
Office of Special Trustee - http://www.doi.gov/ost
Indian Trust: Cobell v. Norton - http://www.indiantrust.com
Cobell v. Norton, Department of Justice - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/cobell/index.htm Related Stories:
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OST pressed on timetable to complete trust reform (01/09)
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Jodi Rave: Tribes alarmed at trust reform initiative (4/3)
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DOI pressed for more clarity on trust initiative (3/3)
Interior hits the road with new trust reform initiative (02/08)
Jodi Rave: Garcia calls for settlement of Cobell (2/3)
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Tribes discuss trust reform bill, Cobell settlement (1/31)
Commentary: Swimmer still not telling the truth on trust (1/26)
Opinion: Indians want $12B of 'YOUR' money (01/10)
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Ross Swimmer: No 'lump sum' settlement for Cobell (12/19)
Attorney: Interior still not living up to trust duties (12/19)
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Audio: House Resources hearing on Cobell (12/8)
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Elouise Cobell: Lamberth frustrated with DOI (11/28)
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Editorial: Settle Cobell trust fund lawsuit (11/25)
Cobell to press Interior on accounting mess (11/22)
Cobell says government not off the hook on trust fund (11/21)
Broad accounting of Indian trust fund blocked (11/16)
Battle over Cobell trust fund case heats up (10/24)
Interior ordered to protect Indian trust fund systems(10/21)
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Bush calls for new judge in Cobell v. Norton case (08/16)
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Indian leaders to pledge support on trust reform (7/26)
Listening Lounge: Senate hearing on Cobell (7/26)
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Elouise Cobell: Principles put trust back into trust fund (07/07)
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Cobell calls for settlement of trust fund lawsuit (7/5)
Editorial: Resolution of trust fund debacle needed (7/5)
Editorial: Abramoff scandal can't compare to trust (6/30)
Opinion: Downfall of Indians traced to Army, BIA (6/28)
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Harjo: Tribes lobby to fleece their own people (6/24)
Editorial: Congress should settle trust fund (6/24)
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Trust reform costs put at $3B, thanks to Bush (6/13)
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Final trust reform meeting held in North Dakota (6/3)
UTTC hosts meeting on trust reform legislation (6/1)
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McCain weighs GAO probe of Indian trust debacle (03/10)
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Appeals court won't hold back Lamberth on trust reform (12/13)
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Lamberth critical of Norton's 'bad faith' on trust fund (10/25)
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Bush administration challenges trust fund ruling (09/16)
Appeals court takes on Cobell trust fund case (9/15)
Lamberth exchanges harsh words with Cobell critic (08/02)
Bush administration calls for end to Cobell case (04/09)
Cobell trust fund suit mediators announced (4/6)
DOI's Internet connection shut down for third time (03/16)
Lamberth defends special master against attack (03/16)
Anderson praises Cobell suit in NCAI speech (2/25)
Tribes still frustrated on trust reform (11/20)
Bush officials blasted by tribal leaders (11/19)
Cobell plaintiffs disputing trust fund rider (11/17)
Daschle criticizes 'shameful' rider in DOI budget bill (11/04)
Norton welcomes time-out in Cobell trust fund case (11/4)
Bush official balks at large settlement for Cobell (7/10)
