Summary:

• Election Day is next Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026! We have a brief neutral guide to the midterm elections including a short list of Native candidates seeking elected positions in the House and Senate. Check it out here: IFAI’s Guide to the 2026 Midterm Elections.

• On October 13, 2026, the judge overseeing the USDA reorganization case issued a stay, effectively pausing USDA’s ongoing reorganization activities, including employee relocation, at least temporarily. USDA has acknowledged the stay in an email to employees, but USDA is also appealing the order to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, so the case is not yet resolved. Check out our new blog post for details. 

• The Navajo Nation recently became the first Tribe eligible to administer the Clean Water Act permitting programs, positioning the Nation to eventually regulate wastewater discharges and water quality protections on its own lands with authorities like those exercised by states. Check out IFAI’s analysis on the Changes to the Waters of the United States here. 

• USDA announced some additional upcoming relief funds for farmers last week, with one-time payments coming from the Harvest Fuel Relief Fund. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer the program, which will be open to producers of Title I commodities with payments based on a formula, similar to the Farmer Bridge Program announced earlier this year. USDA has asked producers of specialty crops and seafood or other non-Title I commodities to email them at HarvestFuel@usda.gov and submit data of their own increased fuel costs.

Congressional Updates: 

Both houses of Congress are currently on recess. Congressional updates will be limited until after the midterm elections in November.

Upcoming Committee Activity:

None relevant to Indian Country food and agriculture.

Regulatory Updates:

Tribal Advisory Committee Notice of Solicitation for Nominations 

• Agency implicated: USDA, BIA 
• Type of action: Notice to solicit nominations for membership 
• Summary: USDA is soliciting nominations for eight (8) vacancies on the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee. 
• Indian Country Impact: Tribal agriculture stakeholder individuals and organizations have a unique opportunity to bring their expertise straight to USDA.
• Relevant deadline: Nominations are due on December 8, 2026.  
• Nominations must be submitted via email to Josiah Griffin, Designated Federal Officer, USDA, Office of Tribal Relations, at Relations@usda.gov 

National Organic Standards Board Call for Applications and Nominations

• Agency implicated: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA
• Type of action: Notice for applications or nominations to the Board
• Summary: USDA is announcing a call for three (3) vacancies on the National Organic Standards Board.
• Indian Country Impact: Tribal ag stakeholders have an opportunity for qualified Tribal producers, Native food sovereignty advocates, and Indigenous scientists to help shape federal organic standards that influence Tribal agriculture and access to organic markets.
• Relevant deadline: December 23, 2026