{"id":429490,"date":"2026-02-23T09:45:48","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T15:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=429490"},"modified":"2026-02-23T13:20:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:20:02","slug":"nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-february-23-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/02\/23\/nafoa-5-things-you-need-to-know-this-week-february-23-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know This Week (February 23, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":" \"NAFOA\"<\/a>
The #NAFOA2026 conference in Reno, Nevada, is fast approaching. We look forward to bringing the community together to engage, collaborate, and exchange meaningful insights. This year\u2019s event will feature timely discussions and impactful conversations. The full conference agenda will be released soon\u2014stay tuned for additional details. Photo courtesy NAFOA<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
5 Things You Need to Know This Week<\/div>\r\n
#NAFOA2026 is Fast Approaching! Stay Tuned for the Conference Agenda.<\/div>\r\n
Monday, February 23, 2026<\/div>\r\n
Source: NAFOA<\/div>\r\n
nafoa.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n

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1. POLICY<\/em><\/div>\r\n
GAO Releases Report on Indian Affairs<\/div>\r\nGAO released a report titled “Indian Affairs: Opportunities Exist to Address Bureau\u2019s Strained Regional Workforce Capacity.” The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided significant supplemental funding for Tribes and programs that serve Tribes, with Congress appropriating $385 million to the Bureau of Indian Affairs through the end of fiscal year 2031. The report found that in Indian Affairs\u2019 Central Offices implementing IRA programs, increased workload exacerbated existing capacity challenges, making it difficult to meet mission and priority goals and to provide adequate support to Tribes. The report also addresses IRA implementation in Indian Affairs\u2019 regional offices, regional workforce capacity since the IRA was enacted, and opportunities for Indian Affairs to help meet overall regional workload demands to support Tribes.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nKey Takeaways<\/strong>\r\n

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  1. \r\nRegional officials said IRA implementation increased overall workload and exacerbated existing regional workforce capacity challenges, affecting the agency\u2019s ability to provide services to Tribes. The pause in IRA fund disbursements in early 2025 led to schedule delays and potential cost increases for projects, impacting Tribes.<\/li>\r\n
  2. \r\nFrom fiscal year 2022 through fiscal year 2024, total staff in Indian Affairs\u2019 regional offices decreased. Staff separations were highest among staff with less than 5 years of service and staff with over 20 years of service. These service categories made up over half of the regional workforce during this time frame. With fiscal year 2025 changes to agency workforce policies and staffing, additional separations are expected, which will further strain regional capacity.<\/li>\r\n
  3. \r\nWe recommend that Indian Affairs systematically identify and assess opportunities to streamline its policies, processes, systems, and requirements to better meet workload demands and implement a comprehensive plan to create efficiencies. We also recommend that Indian Affairs systematically assess tribal technical assistance needs to expand Tribes\u2019 use of self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts and formally assess resources needed to do so.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    <\/p>\r\nSource: U.S. Government Accountability Office\r\nLearn More<\/a>\r\n\r\n

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    2. WEBINAR<\/em><\/div>\r\n
    Using Your Tribal Data to Chart Your Future<\/div>\r\nTuesday, March 3rd from 1:00 \u2013 2:00 p.m. CT\r\n

    <\/p>\r\nThis webinar will provide Tribal leaders, tribal finance practitioners, Tribal government services staff, and Native organization leaders with the opportunity to learn how tribes are leveraging this unique data collaboration to advance their data practices. CICD staff will discuss the survey\u2019s flexible design, provide an overview of data-security procedures, and share examples of the data analyses that participating tribes receive. Tribal leaders will share their perspectives on how Native nations can use survey results to advance their individual economic development goals.\r\n

    <\/p>\r\nSpeakers will include:\r\n

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