Summary
- IFAI has a template letter for Tribes interested in commenting on USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service rescinding a 2023 final rule that removed “visual observation” by State agencies on the collection of race and ethnicity data. Comments are due June 15 to USDA.
- On June 12, the Bureau of Indian Affairs holds the last of its Tribal consultation series about federal staffing, efficiencies, and energy permitting as proposed in Executive Order 14210. Check out the IFAI background briefing document and comment template letter here.
- The Department of the Interior will hold further consultations from June 17 – 26 with Tribal leaders about the Department’s DRAFT FY2026 – 2030 Strategic Plan.
- The U.S. Small Business Administration is holding a Tribal consultation about the efficiencies and effectiveness of 8(a) programs on June 13. Virtual attendance registration is here.
- There are several Federal Register notices from FNS this week, including one about ending the requirement for States to develop a Coordinated Services Plan (CSP).
- Six Congressional hearings will take place this week in the House Committee on Natural Resources, Senate and House Committees on Agriculture.
Calendar
Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings
Title of Event: Indian Affairs Workforce Efficiency and Productivity – EO 14210
About: The U.S. Department of Interior Indian Affairs will conduct a series of Tribal consultations
with federally recognized Tribes to receive formal input on how the Department and its agencies (including the Bureau of Indian Affairs) can implement operational improvements. The consultations vary in format: virtual and/or in-person.
- Date(s), Time, and Location:
- June 12, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Time – North Dakota Register here
- Written comments must be submitted by July 7, 2025, either by email to consultation@bia.gov or by mail to the Department of the Interior, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, 1001 Indian School Road NW, Suite 229, Albuquerque, NM 87104.
About: The U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting a Tribal consultation to seek feedback about how the 8(a) program is working in terms of efficiency and reducing regulatory burden. The link to the Federal Register Notice is here.
- Date(s), Time, and Location:
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- June 13, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Alaska
- Consultation will be held in person at Z.J. Loussac Public Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503
- Pre-registration deadline is June 6, 2025
- Send pre-registration requests to attend and/or testify to Diane Cullo, Assistant Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW, Washington DC 20416; or by email to Diane.Cullo@sba.gov; or Facsimile to (202) 481-2177.
- Individuals wanting to participate virtually can register here.
About: The Department of Interior (DOI) is hosting a series of consultations to obtain Tribal feedback about the Department’s FY2026 – 2030 Strategic Plan. All sessions will be virtual.
- Date(s), Time, and Location:
- June 17, 2025, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. eastern – East Coast Tribal Register Here
- June 18, 2025, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. eastern – Alaska Native Register Here
- June 24, 2025, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. eastern – West Coast Tribal Register Here
- June 26, 2025, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. eastern – Native Hawaiian Register Here
- The comment period will be open for 30 days after the last consultation. Session participants may submit written comments to consultation@bia.gov
Congressional Sessions:
Looking back:
Hearing: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee– Tuesday, June 3
Topic: Nomination of Michael Boren to be Agriculture Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment
Highlights: Michael Boren said that he wants to focus on public access, environmental stewardship, and collaboration and that he is committed to balancing multiple uses of public lands: recreation, timber, conservation, and economic development.
Hearing: House Natural Resources Committee- Wednesday, June 4
Topic: Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness
Highlights: The hearing focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the U.S. seafood industry, both commercial and recreational, and included testimony from a diverse panel of stakeholders.
Hearing: House Agriculture Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee– Thursday, June 5
Topic: Supporting Farmers, Strengthening Conservation, Sustaining Working Lands
Highlights: The hearing focused on evaluating and improving Farm Bill conservation programs, particularly under Title II, which supports voluntary, incentive-based conservation efforts on working lands.
Hearing: House Appropriations Committee– Thursday, June 5
Topic: FY2026 Agriculture-Rural Development-FDA Bill
Highlights: Total Budget Allocation: $25.5 billion (a 4.2% or $1.1 billion decrease from FY25)
Looking ahead:
Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources- Tuesday, June 10 at 10:15 a.m. eastern
Topic: Legislative hearing on H.R. 3444 “Tribal Self-Determination and Co-management in Forestry Act of 2025”
Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry- Tuesday, June 10 at 3 p.m. eastern
Topic: Nomination hearing of Brian Quintenz to be Chairman and a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Hearing: Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources- Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. eastern
Topic: Department of the Interior FY 2026 budget hearing
Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture– Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. eastern
Topic: Receiving testimony from Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources– Wednesday, June 11 at 10 a.m. eastern
Topic: Legislative hearing on:
- H.R. 411 “Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Land Claim Settlement Act of 2025”
- H.R. 2916 “To authorize, ratify, and confirm the Agreement of Settlement and Compromise to Resolve the Akwesasne Mohawk Land Claim in the State of New York, and for other purposes
- H.R. 3620 “Southcentral Foundation Land Transfer Act of 2025”
- H.R. 3670 “IHS Provider Expansion Act”
Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources– Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. eastern
Topic: Department of the Interior FY 2026 budget hearing
Nominations:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee– due before July 18, 2025.
Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions
Title: Child Nutrition: Streamlining Plan Requirements for Summer EBT Program and the Rural Non-Congregate Option in the Summer Food Service Program
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has issued a final rule that removes the requirement for States that operate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Summer EBT to develop a Coordinated Services Plan (CSP).
- In December 2023, FNS established an interim final rule that required States to develop CSPs to coordinate the statewide availability of SFSP and Summer EBT.
- FNS received comments from States and advocates about the interim final rule, which stated that development of CSPs was burdensome, unnecessary, and duplicative of other reporting requirements.
- This final rule comes into effect on August 5, 2025
Posted: Week of June 9, 2025
Title: National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program: Elimination of the State Ameliorative Action Reporting Requirement for School Meals Eligibility Verification
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has issued and interim final rule that rescinds the requirement for State education agencies to report ameliorative or corrective actions taken due to verification of applications.
- The Department will still require State education agencies to conduct verification reports on an annual basis.
- This interim final rule took effect on June 6, 2025.
- Comments received by July 7, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of June 9, 2025
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request: Uniform Grant Application Package for Discretionary Grant Programs
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting public comments about the use of Uniform Grant Application Package for Discretionary Grant Programs.
- The uniform grant application package includes information such as general information and instructions, program narrative statement describing how goals and objectives will be met, and budge information.
- If FNS decides that it needs additional information to satisfy the needs of a grant program, it will not use the current uniform grant application package and publish a 30-day notice asking for different or additional information.
- The revised information collection included in this notice relates to the program narrative statement.
- Comments received by August 4, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of June 9, 2025
Title: Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustments for 2025
- USDA’s Office of the Secretary announced a final rule that amends the Department’s monetary penalties to adjust for inflation.
- The rule complies with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.
- The rule identifies various adjusted civil monetary penalties across USDA Agencies. For example:
- Agricultural Marketing Service – penalty for improper record keeping.
- Food Nutrition Service – penalty for violating a provision of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008.
- Food Safety and Inspection Service – penalty for certain violations under the Egg Products Inspection Act.
- The final rule took effect on May 29, 2025.
Posted: Week of June 2, 2025
- USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) submitted for OMB review proposed information collection activities related to additional testing and reporting of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in livestock and milk.
- The objective of the proposed collection activities is to address the spread of the HPAI virus through raw milk.
- Samples will be collected at facilities that ship, receive, or transfer milk interstate.
- Comments submitted by June 30, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of June 2, 2025
- USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) issued a final rule implementing the ELRP for 2023 and 2024.
- ELRP provides payments to eligible livestock producers that had losses resulting from qualifying drought and qualifying wildfire that occurred in 2023 and 2024.
- Prospective participants are not required to file additional application to receive ELRP for 2023 and 2024. FSA will calculate payments based on data already submitted to FSA.
- The rule took effect on May 29, 2025
Posted: Week of June 2, 2025
- USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is requesting general clearance to conduct research and develop nutrition education, promotion materials, and related tools and grants.
- FNS develops resources about healthy eating and physical activity to children and adults that participate in federal nutrition programs.
- FNS uses research methods such as focus groups, interviews, surveys, and web-based data collection.
- Written comments received on or before July 28, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of June 2, 2025