Putting Tribal SovereigntyPolicy
What we do
The IFAI Policy team assists Tribal Nations in strengthening their food systems and agricultural initiatives by delivering timely and accurate analyses of federal laws and policies that affect Tribal agriculture.
Policy Briefings
Policy Brief-February 3
Summary: There are two Congressional hearings on Tuesday from the House Appropriations Committee and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Notes relevant to Tribal food and agriculture will be posted next week. Two Federal Register notices of interest this week...
Policy Brief-January 20
Summary: USDA’s Forest Service is holding a virtual engagement session with Tribes on Feb. 11, 2026, to discuss the implementation of the EXPLORE Act, which includes an expansion of the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). Register online HERE. The Forest Service is...
Policy Brief-January 13
Summary: Do you know anyone aged 18-24 years old who is thinking about a possible career in Tribal food and agriculture? Applications for IFAI’s 2026 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit are now open! The final deadline for all applications is...
Policy Brief-December 16
Summary: Last week, USDA’s Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) held its final meeting of 2025 during the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s (IAC) Annual Conference in Las Vegas, NV. The various TAC subcommittees (e.g. Ranching, Farm Production, and Conservation...
Policy Brief-December 2
Summary: There are no Congressional hearings relevant to Tribal food and agriculture this week. The FDPIR Tribal Leaders Consultation Work Group will hold its final government-to-government consultation of the year with USDA during the Intertribal Agriculture...
Policy Brief-November 25
Summary: There are no Congressional hearings scheduled this week. The FDPIR Tribal Leaders Consultation Work Group will hold its final government-to-government consultation of the year with USDA during the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Annual Conference on...
Policy Brief-November 18
Summary: After 54 days of the government shutdown, Congress is back in the swing of things. There are three Congressional hearings relevant to Tribal food and agriculture this week: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, House Subcommittee on Indian and...
Food and Nutrition Service Requesting SNAP Comments
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting comments to their proposed updated staple food stocking standards for retailers in SNAP. If you would like to submit comments for USDA Food and Nutrition Service Updated...
Policy Brief-November 11
Summary: There are no Congressional hearings scheduled this week, but the House is set to return on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and vote on a funding bill that could reopen the government. DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs series of consultations on Secretarial Order 3443,...
Policy Brief-November 4
Summary: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is holding a nomination hearing on Wednesday, November 5, for Glen Smith to be the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development. DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs scheduled two in-person...