• Coming soon: IFAI will be releasing an analysis of the proposed USDA reorganization and its potential impact on Indian Country food systems and agricultural production.  

• USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is seeking public comments on the Special Milk Program for Children . 

• On August 1, the Senate passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 3944) by a vote of 87 to 9. The bill provides $27.1 billion in discretionary funding, including $8.2 billion for WIC, $1.87 billion for the Agricultural Research Service, and $425 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.  

• The public comment period on USDA’s Reorganization Plan is now open. All stakeholders, including Tribal governments, are encouraged to submit their feedback to reorganization@usda.gov by August 26, 2025. The Department’s reorganization plans were published via USDA Secretary Rollins’ Memorandum on July 24, 2025. 

• Congress is officially in their August recess. 

Calendar

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

Hearing: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee – July 29, 2025 

Topic: Perspectives on Reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act (H.R. 4550) 

Highlights: There were no direct references to Tribal nutrition and agriculture.  

Hearing: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee – July 30, 2025 

Topic: Review of the USDA Reorganization Proposal 

Highlights: The hearing was held to review Secretary Rollins’ July 24 Memorandum outlining USDA relocations and consolidations. Senators sought clarity on potential job losses, regional impacts, and service delivery disruptions.  

Looking ahead:

Congress is in recess. 

Nominations:

National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE)- 

Description: This council is tasked with advising the Secretaries of Education and the Interior on programs involving Indian children and adults, recommending candidates for the Director of Indian Education, and submitting an annual report to Congress with suggestions for improving and funding federal education programs that serve or benefit Native communities 

Deadline: August 31, 2025 

Tribal Issues Advisory Group 

Description: This group supports the U.S. Sentencing Commission by advising on federal sentencing issues related to American Indian and Alaska Native defendants and victims, especially for offenses in Indian Country. It also consults with tribal entities, shares sentencing information, and performs other related tasks as requested by the Commission 

Deadline: September 19, 2025 

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultive Committee 

Description: The purpose of this body is to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders are considered in the development of positions and policy relative to U.S. participation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 

Deadline: Nominations will be accepted at any time 

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

• USDA’s Forest Service and the Department of Interior issued a final rule that revises subsistence taking of fish and shellfish for 2025-26 and 2026-27 regulatory years.  

• This final rule also updates the regulations on subsistence taking of wildlife, outlining harvest limits, types of taking, and open season time periods for animals such as bears, caribou, and moose.  

• The final rule outlines a table of proposed revisions to the Regulations for the Federal Subsistence Management Program.  

• A proposed rule was published on March 22, 2024, and closed on May 21, 2024.  

• The final rule took effect on July 18, 2025.  

Posted: Week of July 21, 2025 

• USDA’s Rural Housing Service has announced funding availability of $5 million for FY 2025 under the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI).  

• The initiative will assist qualified private, nonprofit, and public (including Tribal) Intermediary organizations in providing financial and technical assistance programs to improve housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. 

• Federally recognized Tribes, including Tribally Dedicated Housing Entities (TDHE), are eligible recipients for this grant.  

• The minimum grant award per Intermediary organization is $50,000, and the maximum award is $500,000. 

• Electronic submissions are due on August 7, 2025; paper submissions are due on August 12, 2025. 

Posted: Week of July 21, 2025 

• Funds for the NCDFI Relending Demonstration Program are now available for FY 2025. 

• These loans are for NCDFI to relend to low- and very low-income recipients for the purpose of acquiring, building, rehabilitating, improving, or relocating dwellings on Tribal Land in rural areas. 

• The funding available for FY 2025 is $4.63 million. 

• This program increases homeownership opportunities for Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Communities, and Native Hawaiian communities in rural areas. The anticipated award date is September 30, 2025.  

• Deadline for submissions is August 29, 2025 

Posted: Week of July 21, 2025 

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency has issued a final rule announcing SDRP for calendar years 2023 and 2024. This program provides assistance to eligible producers for losses due to things such as wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and qualifying drought.  

• Assistance will be provided in two stages – Stage 1 and Stage 2. 

• This notice outlines eligibility requirements, application process, and SDRP payment calculations for Stage 1 only. Stage 2 will be announced in a later rule.  

• This final rule took effect on July 10, 2025 

Posted: Week of July 21, 2025 

• USDA published a final rule that, effective July 10, 2025, it will no longer utilize the designation “socially disadavantaged” to provide increased benefits based on race and sex in programs that include Pandemic Assistance Programs, Farm Loan Programs, Guaranteed Farm Loans, Conservation Reserve Program, and Agricultural Management Assistance.  

• This final rule affects programs in agencies such as the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Farm Service Agency. 

• With this final rule, “USDA will no longer apply race- or sex-based criteria in its decision-making processes, ensuring that its programs are administered in a manner that upholds the principles of meritocracy, fairness, and equal opportunity for all participants.”  

• USDA believes that it has addressed past injustices and taken substantial steps to reach comprehensive settlements, institutional reforms, and compensatory frameworks.  

Posted: Week of July 21, 2025