Putting Tribal Sovereignty
Summary:
- Congress continues to be in recess until April 10, 2026.
- There are several Federal Register notices to highlight this week, including two final rules: one about the National Environmental Policy Act and another about the Farm Credit Administration’s amendment of business planning requirements.
- Check out recent important Ag Policy Updates below about USDA’s Forest Service reorganization, the President’s Budget Request for USDA, a pause on new Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, and a new Grocery Guarantee loan through SBA’s International Trade Loan Program.
Outreach Calendar
General Policy Update:
- On Mar. 31, USDA announced that it was moving its Forest Service national headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah and replacing regional forestry offices with state-based offices. This move is part of USDA’s overall reorganization announced by Secretary Rollins on July 24, 2025. The Department states that this shift “represents a structural reset and a common-sense approach to improve mission delivery.” The nine regional forestry offices will be closed and replaced with 15 state-based offices and new operational service centers in Albuquerque, NM; Athens, GA; Fort Collin, CO; Madison, WI; Missoula, MT; and Placerville, CA. In addition, 56 forestry research facilities across 31 states will be closed. A Tribal forum on the Forest Service reorganization is being held on Tuesday, April 7 at 11am PT. Register here to attend. An analysis of potential Tribal impacts is forthcoming from IFAI.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
- On April 3, President Trump released the President’s Budget Request (PBR), which outlines the President’s funding priorities for the upcoming fiscal year for Congress. President Trump is proposing a 19% cut ($4.9 billion) to USDA funding. These include cutting $510 million to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) formula grants, which funds research at land-grant universities; eliminating $659 million for Congressional directed Community Facilities grants, which have been used by Tribes and rural communities to fund critical infrastructure projects; and cutting $61 million from the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). Outside of USDA, the President proposes to cut $204.5 million from the Community Development Financial Institute (CDFI) fund and eliminates the Indian Guaranteed Loan Program. An analysis Indian agriculture impacts in the PBR is forthcoming from IFAI.
- USDA’s Rural Development announced that they are pausing new awards for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This change follows Executive Order 14315, Ending Market Distorting Subsidies for Unreliable, Foreign Controlled Energy Sources. Applicants who previously submitted applications will have the opportunity to reapply once a new Notice of Funding Opportunity is published.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced an enhanced “Grocery Guarantee” through the SBA International Trade Loan (ITL) Program. The intent is to expand food production and supply by helping small business producers in the agriculture and logistics industries obtain guaranteed term loans. Interested lenders and small businesses are encouraged to contact SBA’s national team of Finance Managers.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
- President Trump announced that he will be requesting more farm aid from Congress in the coming weeks. Farmers have been hit with increased costs for diesel and fertilizer due to the war in Iran, as well as the ongoing impacts of tariffs.
Posted: Week of Mar. 30, 2026
Recent IFAI policy analyses
- Check out IFAI’s recent analysis of S.3994 – the PRIME Meat Processing in Indian Country Act! Introduced by Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), this bill would authorize 638 agreements for Tribes to train meat inspectors and to conduct meat inspections at Tribally owned meat processing plant.
Posted: Week of Mar. 23, 2026.
Governance Guide Roundtables
- In November 2025, IFAI released the Tribal Governance Guide to Food and Agriculture to help Tribal Nations navigate the complex frameworks and policy considerations towards food sovereignty.
- IFAI is now offering Tribal Food Policy Roundtables in relation to the Governance Guide. Each roundtable will be tailored to the unique priorities and interests of the hosting Tribe/Tribal organization. Discussions will vary but may include (1) an overview of the Governance Guide; (2) in-depth discussions on tools and resources within the Guide; and (3) open dialogue with Tribal leadership, Tribal staff, and Tribal producers.
- All roundtables are offered at no cost to the Tribe.
Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:
Title of Event: FDPIR Produce Safety Training
About: This is a 2-day in-person training designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for FDPIR program operators and staff who are receiving, handling, and storing fresh produce. The training helps Tribes and State agencies properly assess and safely distribute fresh produce to program participants.
Date(s), Time, and Location:
Congressional Updates:
Looking Back:
Congress was in recess during the week of Mar. 30, 2026
Looking Ahead:
Congress is in recess for two weeks – the week of March 30 and the week of April 6, 2026.
Nominations:
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultative Committee (NCC)
Description: This committee advises the Secretaries of Commerce and State on issues relevant to the work of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) convention. NAFO is an international fisheries management body focused on coordinating international scientific studies of key marine species in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. NCC seeks nominations from committee members with fishing and/or seafood processing industry experience, marine/fisheries conservation and management experience, and more.
Deadline: Nominations for the committee will be accepted at any time.
Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:
Title: General Provisions
- The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) revised its business planning requirements related to diversity and inclusion.
- Specifically, FCA will no longer require 1) institution business plans to assess diversity as a need of the board of directors, 2) institution human capital plans to include strategies and actions to strive for diversity and inclusion within their workforce and management, and 3) institutions, in their marketing plans’ strategies and actions to market their products and services to all eligible and creditworthy persons, to have specific outreach toward diversity and inclusion.
- This final rule was effective as of Mar. 23, 2026.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read More HERE
Title: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting comments for a study on Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Tribal Organization and U.S. Territories.
- This study will inform FNS about WIC variation operations among Tribal Organizations, U.S. territories, and geographic States that administer the program.
- Knowledge gaps about unique administrative issues and the high cost of operations in Tribal Organizations and U.S. territories will be examined.
- Comments must be received by May 6, 2026
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read More HERE
Title: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
- USDA is finalizing the Interim Final Rule (IFR) published in July 2025 that rewrote its NEPA framework after the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rescinded its NEPA regulations.
- Removes certain rules from the regulations, creates a new USDA-specific NEPA framework, and aligns with recent executive orders.
- This final rule is effective Apr. 3, 2026.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read More HERE
Title:
- USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking revising how the Agency defines establishment size for its oversight of meat and poultry establishments and egg products plants.
- Since 1996, the Agency has used Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) size categories based on employee count and annual sales; for example, a “very small” establishment has fewer than 10 employees or annual sales under $2.5 million.
- The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) provided feedback in September 2024, noting that current definitions group together businesses that operate at very different scales.
- Comments must be submitted by May 26, 2026.
Posted: Week of Apr. 6, 2026
Read More HERE.
Title: Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems; Delay of Effective Date
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is delaying the effective date of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems final rule.
- One of the actions in the final rule “prohibits livestock poultry dealers from reducing a grower’s compensation based on the grower’s ranking under a poultry grower ranking system.”
- The delay allows time for further consideration of possible actions about the final rule implementation.
- The new proposed effective date will be changed from July 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027.
Posted: Week of Mar. 23, 2026
Read More HERE.
Title: Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation Projects
- DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published a notice about rate adjustments for Indian irrigation projects.
- BIA establishes irrigation assessment rates to recover project administration, operation, and maintenance costs.
- Regions like the Northwest Region and the Western Region will see an increase in their proposed 2027 rates.
- Comments must be received by May 22, 2026
Posted: Week of Mar. 23, 2026
Read More HERE.
Title: National Organic Program: National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances per October 2021, October 2022, and October 2024 Recommendations (Crops and Livestock)
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has published a proposed rule regarding organic regulations related to organic crop and livestock production.
- Proposed changes include allowing carbon dioxide in organic crop production and meloxicam for pain treatment in organic livestock production.
- Entities that may be affected by this proposed rule include organic crop and/or livestock producers as well as individuals or business entities considering organic certification for crop and/or livestock production.
- Comments must be received by May 22, 2026
Posted: Week of Mar. 23, 2026
Read More HERE.