Putting Tribal Sovereignty
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – Today, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative released an in-depth analysis of the impacts of USDA’s plans to significantly reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on Indian Country.
Under the reorganization plan, the Food and Nutrition Service will be rebranded the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA), and the seven regional offices will be replaced with five hubs. Three of the hubs will specialize in different nutrition programs, one will focus on emergency management, and one on research. States and Tribes will also be assigned to a hub for “support and evaluation.”
In practice, it’s unclear how the new system will work for Tribes administering nutrition programs. It’s possible that Tribes will need to work with multiple hubs to submit reports, develop budgets, and obtain technical assistance or disaster assistance. For example, a Tribe administering the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and Summer EBT may need to work with staff in the Kansas City hub for FDPIR and with staff in the Dallas hub for Summer EBT. This approach is more administratively complex for Tribes and may take limited staff time and resources away from serving their Tribes.
The reorganization will likely lead to loss of regional and Tribal knowledge. FNS has already lost 28% of their staff since the start of 2025, and additional departures due to relocation are likely. New or relocated staff may not be familiar a Tribe’s region or Indian Country, much less the unique needs and challenges for the individual Tribe. Tribes may yet again need to educate federal staff — possibly in multiple hubs — on the unique relationship between the federal government and Tribal Nations and how this relationship iterates in program delivery, as well as on the Tribe’s specific circumstances.
The reorganization may also make it more difficult for USDA to address ongoing delivery issues with the new FDPIR warehouse and distribution vendors. Since transitioning to the new vendors, several Tribes have reported delayed deliveries, unclear delivery timelines, and delivery errors. Resolving these issues takes limited staff time from serving their communities, and with USDA staff relocating, a long-term fix may take longer.
IFAI has provided this report for Tribal governments and stakeholders to understand and prepare for the FNA reorganization. Tribes seeking additional clarification or information may reach out to FNA directly or request formal consultation on the matter. Meaningful engagement and reforms that center Tribal sovereignty are essential to ensuring USDA food and nutrition programs remain effective and equitable for Indian Country.