• USDA is holding two Tribal leader consultation sessions on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16 over its Reorganization Plan. Check out IFAI’s analysis of potential Indian Country impacts here. IFAI will hold a closed Tribal briefing on October 9, 2025 for elected Tribal leaders and staff ahead of the consultation. Register here. 

• This week, Sept. 18, the USDA Tribal Advisory Committee is holding a meeting. Proceedings start at noon EST, with public comments open from 3-4 p.m. The TAC is also taking nominations for new members through next Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.  

• There are two Congressional hearings from the House Agriculture Committee over the Specialty Crop Industry and USDA’s Rural Development Agency programs coming up this week. Additionally, there is a hearing in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs pertaining to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. 

• The Federal Register published a notice of funding opportunity for Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs and a final rule on the implementation of the  Emergency Livestock Relief Programs.  

• Dr. Browning Neddeau (Citizen Potawatomi) was IFAI’s guest on Episode 8 of Rooted Wisdom, discussing his research on Native American imagery on agricultural crate labels.  

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:  

About: TAC is virtually holding its third meeting of 2025. The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and guidance to USDA on matters related to Tribal and Indian affairs. 

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Sept. 18, 2025 (Thursday) at 12 to 7 p.m. Eastern; public comment period is from 3 to 4 p.m. (approx.) 
• Members of the public who wish to attend this meeting or provide oral public comments must register here. 
• Written comments may be submitted to the TAC by Sept. 15, 2025, via email at Tribal.Relations@usda.gov.  
• An agenda will be made available here.  

About: This consultation series is intended to obtain feedback from Tribal leaders and their officially delegated proxies about the USDA Reorganization Plan published in Secretary Memorandum (SM 1078-015) on July 24, 2025.  

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Oct. 14, 2025 (Tuesday) at 2-5 p.m. EST 
    • Virtual participation register  here 
    • In-Person participation register  here (Washington, DC – exact address TBA) 
  • Oct. 16, 2025 (Thursday) at noon-3 p.m. EST 
    • Virtual participation register here 
    • In-Person participation register here (Denver, CO – exact address TBA
• Proxy Letter Template 
• Tribal Invitation 

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

Topic: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Mr. William Kirkland to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs 

Highlights: Committee vote on the nomination of William “Billy” Kirkland, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, for Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior.  

Topic: Exploring State Options in SNAP 

Highlights: This hearing focused on state-level administration, fraud prevention, technology use, and impacts of recent legislation—particularly the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). 

Topic: “State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests” 

Highlights: The hearing focused on the state of federal forests, wildfire management, timber production, and the Forest Service’s budget and staffing under the Trump Administration. The Tribal Forest Protection Act agreements were highlighted and described as tools to strengthen Tribal collaboration in forest health and wildfire mitigation.

Topic: Legislative Hearing on:  

• H.R. 681 (Rep. Keating, D-MA), To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes 

• H.R. 3654 (Rep. Randall, D-WA), “Tribal Emergency Response Resources Act” or the “TERRA Act” 

• H.R. 3903 (Rep. Begich, R-AK), “Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025” 

• H.R. 3925 (Rep. Obernolte, R-CA), “Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act” 

Highlights: This hearing examined five bills addressing Tribal leasing authority, disaster resilience funding, land exchanges, and Tribal membership. Tribal leaders stressed sovereign authority over membership and land use. 

Looking ahead:

Topic: An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry 

Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture—Sept. 18, 2025 (Thursday) at 10 a.m. EST 

Topic: USDA’s Rural Development: Delivering Vital Programs and Services to Rural America 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs—Sept. 17, 2025 (Wednesday) at 2:30 p.m. EST
Topic: Oversight Hearing entitled “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Successes and Opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service.” 

Nominations:

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.

Tribal Advisory Committee 

Description: The committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture on matters relating to Tribal and Indian Affairs. 

Deadline: Sept. 22, 2025 

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

• USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service issued a notice of funding opportunity for REDLG FY26. 
• REDLG Programs enable the promotion of rural economic development and job creation projects by financing eligible Rural Utilities Service (RUS) electric or telecommunications borrowers.  
• Assistance to rural and Tribal areas include business startup costs, business expansion and technical assistance feasibility studies.  
• Due dates are as follows: 
  • First Quarter: Sept. 30, 2025 
  • Second Quarter: Dec. 31, 2025 
  • Third Quarter: Mar. 31, 2026 
  • Fourth Quarter: June 30, 2026 

Posted: Week of Sept. 15 

• USDA’s Farm Service Agency issued a final rule, implementing the Emergency Livestock Relief Program (ELRP) 2023 and 2024. 

• ELRP provides payments for losses resulting from increased supplemental feed costs due to qualifying flood or wildfire in calendar year 2023 and 2024.  

• This final rule outlines administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, and payment calculations.  

• The rule took effect on Sept. 15, 205 and the deadline to submit an application for FY2023 and FY2024 is Oct. 31, 2025. 

Posted: Week of Sept. 15