Republican lawmakers continue investigation into ‘serious dysfunction’ at tribal colleges

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Joint Oversight Hearing: Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education

Monday, June 23, 2025

Indianz.Com

Republican lawmakers are holding another hearing as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI).

The House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce are meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss what they are calling “serious dysfunction” at both institutions of higher learning. The Republican-drafted hearing memo accuses the administration of prior president Joe Biden, a Democrat, of covering up problems at the colleges.

“Throughout the Committees’ ongoing investigation, the Biden administration repeatedly stonewalled Congressional and community efforts to address mismanagement, waste, fraud, and abuse at HINU and SIPI,” the 12-page memo states.

Hearing Memo

The committees previously met in July 2024 to address allegations of sexual assault, harassment, bullying, nepotism, theft, retaliation, waste, fraud and abuse at HINU, located in Kansas. Tuesday’s hearing marks the first time that SIPI, located in New Mexico, is being discussed.

“Both HINU and SIPI suffer from low graduation rates and accreditation problems. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the HINU graduation rate in 2023 was 43 percent, while SIPI’s stood at 9 percent,” the memo reads. “These numbers include all full-time, first-time degree, or certificate-seeking undergraduate students.”

According to the two committees, the sole witness for the hearing is Scott Davis, a citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who is a political appointee at the Department of the Interior. Although his stated title is Senior Advisor to the Secretary, he is currently exercising the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, a position that is currently vacant in President Donald Trump’s administration.

Trump has nominated William “Billy” Kirkland, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. However, he has yet to go before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for his confirmation hearing, which was to take place this Wednesday, June 25, before being postponed due to scheduling issues.

A bronze sculpture by Craig Dan Goseyun depicts an Apache hoop and pole game player. Photo: miracc

Should Kirkland be confirmed to the post, he would oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as well as the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). The two agencies have been targeted by Trump as his administration reduces the size of the federal workforce and the amount of federal spending.

“After years of the Biden administration failing to address the issues facing tribal students, the Committee looks forward to continuing to work with the Trump administration’s DOI to ensure that Indian students receive a quality education in the quality environment that they deserve,” the memo reads.

The hearing, which is titled “Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education,” takes place at 10:30am Eastern in Room 1334 of the Longworth House Office Building. A livestream will be available at youtu.be/FY8uEpfinpM.

Committee Notices

Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education (June 24, 2025)
Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education (June 24, 2025)

Relevant Documents

Hearing Notice | Hearing Notice (TIME CHANGE) | Hearing Memo