The House Committee on Appropriations hosts a budget hearing for the Department of the Interior on May 20, 2025.

During the hearing, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum discussed the fiscal year 2026 budget request for the department he leads. So far, the administration of President Donald Trump has released only general outlines of the request, which proposes cuts to a number of Indian programs. [PDF: Recommendations on discretionary funding levels for fiscal year (FY) 2026]

Burgum, a former two-term governor of the state of North Dakota, was the sole witness. His department includes the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. [PDF: Written Statement of Secretary Burgum]

The hearing lasted about 2 hours and 25 minutes. It took place before the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which writes the bill that funds nearly every Indian Country program in the federal government.

Budget Hearing – Department of the Interior (May 20, 2025)