Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin) voices concerns about the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) at a hearing on June 12, 2025.

According to Tiffany, the BIA was not forthcoming with information about roads on a reservation in Wisconsin. He claims it took a court order for the information to be released.

“Will we have greater transparency in regards to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and accountability to those of us in Congress that are simply asking questions?” Tiffany asked Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at the hearing in Washington, D.C.

“Happy to work with you on that, sir,” responded Burgum, who leads the Department of the Interior, the federal agency with the most trust and treaty responsibilities in Indian Country.

The issue arose in January 2023, when the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians closed four roads following an ongoing dispute about rights-of-way on the reservation. Tiffany did not mention the tribe by name.

Tiffany also did not mention that the federal government, in May 2023, sued the town of Lac du Flambeau for continuing to allow the roads to be used even though the rights-of-way have expired. But he did ask Burgum to look into how the BIA is spending money as part of its fiduciary obligations to tribal nations.

“In regards to Bureau of Indian Affairs and the budget for the Department of the Interior, I’ve seen millions of dollars that have been dedicated to litigation — that the tribes are sent money that they can litigate,” Tiffany said.

“Rather than spending it on litigation, can we spend it on other things that seem to be more important, like housing and law enforcement?” Tiffany asked.

“That’s an excellent suggestion. Thank you, sir,” Burgum said.

The hearing took place before the House Committee on Natural Resources. Tiffany serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Examining the President’s FY 2026 Budget Request for the Department of the Interior (June 12, 2025)

Hearing Notice | Hearing Memo