Date Recorded: Nov 21, 2025
Download: PowerPoint Presentation
Co-hosted by:
Rob Maxim (Mashpee Wampanoag) Fellow Brookings Metro
Liz Malerba (Mohegan) Director of Policy & Legislative Affairs USET Sovereignty Protection Fund
NAFOA held a discussion on how federal government shutdowns affect Native communities and what Tribal leaders can expect as government operations resume. Joined by leading policy experts and researchers from the Brookings Institution who provided Tribal leaders, finance officers, and administrators with actionable insights on:
- Immediate impacts on Tribal operations, including delays in federal funding, contract support costs, and program disbursements
- Service disruptions across key areas: healthcare, education, law enforcement, and social services
- The reopening process: what to expect as government operations restart and how to navigate the backlog
- Long-term aftermath: addressing deferred maintenance, delayed projects, and strained resources
- Preparedness strategies to strengthen tribal resilience against future shutdowns
- Advocacy priorities to protect tribal funding and fulfill federal trust responsibilities