The E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse houses both the federal court for the District of Columbia and the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to submit another status report about its efforts to distribute the rest of the $8 billion coronavirus relief fund promised to tribal governments.
Judge Amit P. Mehta requested the update from the Department of the Treasury earlier on May 26, 2020. It’s due by the end of the day.
“Defendant shall submit an additional Status Report by May 26, 2020, updating the court on its efforts to disburse the remaining 40% of Title V funds to Tribal governments,” the order reads.
"Frustrating": Tribal nations are still jumping through bureaucratic hoops in order to secure the full $8 billion in #COVID19 relief that was promised by the Trump administration more than seven weeks ago. #CoronavirusReliefFund #CARESAct #Coronavirus https://t.co/UQEIx8ZG3y
— indianz.com (@indianz) May 20, 2020
Treasury submitted a status report to Mehta on May 22. It did not contain much information, beyond that which had already been provided to the court and to tribes.
“Pursuant to the Court’s May 19, 2020, Minute Order, Defendant hereby offers this supplemental status report on its progress toward paying the remaining $3.2 billion of the $8 billion set aside for Tribal governments under Title V of the CARES Act,” the two-paragraph update began.
“Defendant is implementing the plan that it previously articulated to the Court. Consistent with that plan, the portal is now open for Tribal governments to submit their data,” the report reads. “The Tribal governments were notified by email, with a link to the portal. The deadline for data submission is Tuesday, May 26, 2020.”
Tribes are being asked to submit more information in order to secure the remaining $3.2 billion in #Coronavirus relief promised weeks ago. Read the email sent by Trump administration close to midnight amid #COVID19 pandemic. #CoronavirusReliefFund https://t.co/wDBsMppTGU
— indianz.com (@indianz) May 20, 2020
Tribes have until 11:59pm Alaska time on May 26 to submit employment and expenditure information to Treasury. The data will be used to determine how to allocate the remaining $3.2 billion.
The case is Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Mnuchin, Case No. 1:20-cv-1136.
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