Earlier this year, Workforce Matters fielded a feedback survey and hosted two listening sessions in partnership with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Over 100 individuals participated, including grant partners in our Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities initiative, Native-led nonprofits, Tribal programs, 477 programs, WIOA Section 166 programs, and groups providing wraparound services, entrepreneurship support, and advocacy.
Our goal was to learn more about current challenges, opportunities, and needs with respect to workforce development in Indian Country in order to elevate them with the larger workforce funding community.
Programmatic and priority shifts at the federal level are creating communication/coordination gaps and uncertainty
Program leaders expressed concern about a lack of coordination among 477 programs (Public Law 102-477 - The Indian Employment, Training and Related Services Demonstration Act), 166 programs (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act authorizing funds for Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals), Bureau of Indian Affairs, Health and Human Services, and supporting WIOA programs at the federal level. Respondents noted challenges in contacting federal agencies and employees and securing their participation in briefings or events.
Uncertainty and lack of transparency around funding streams, programs, and priorities at the federal level has also made it difficult for programs to budget or plan for both current and future years. Programs that focus on building a workforce in areas such as climate resilience, conservation, farming, and alternative energy have already seen some cuts and are worried about future funding and priority shifts that may affect their ability to operate.
Funding freezes and cuts at the federal level are creating gaps in staffing, programs, and services
Native programs that operate under 477 consolidate multiple funding streams and reporting requirements. Unfortunately, this has also made these programs vulnerable to recent cuts across many areas, including the Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LiHEAP), Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), and AmeriCorps. Native leaders on the calls reported they were less able to provide critical wraparound support to jobseekers and people in workforce training. Cuts to summer employment programs for young people, WIOA 166 program funding, and cuts to Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) have also limited funding available for workforce training in Native Nations and communities. A number of leaders reported that they were reluctant to advertise and fill open positions because of potential future funding cuts. Multiple respondents noted that they have experienced funding freezes, which have impacted their ability to retain staff, run programs, and plan for the future. In some cases, programs that had recently secured funding to purchase equipment for upcoming training programs were unable to proceed because the grant for the actual training had been terminated. In other cases, respondents noted that programs with an explicit Native cultural focus had been terminated.
Program leaders reported delays in getting reimbursements under current federal grants. Some Tribal programs have spent grant money with the expectation that they will be reimbursed by the federal government, and those reimbursements are not happening. Additionally, with many staffing positions supported by federal funding, teams are questioning where they will be able to secure additional funds to fill the funding gap left by the federal government grants.
Finally, some programs received federal funding but were asked by DOGE to resubmit new budgets for federal grants that had already been approved. Other programs said they have grants submitted to the federal government awaiting approval but are concerned they will not be approved, or the funding stream will be cut.
What is Needed
Reliable, Up-to-Date Information
Program leaders expressed that it was often difficult to find real-time information about the latest policies impacting Indian Country. Many mainstream workforce networks are not closely tracking priorities/programs affecting Native Nations and communities. As a result, call participants use a variety of resources, including informal Reddit threads, to get the news and information they need. Support for coordinated information sharing and capacity would be helpful.
Flexible Funding and Capacity Building
The loss of flexible funding, particularly via cuts to programs covered under Tribes’ 477 plans, has been particularly impactful in Native communities. WIOA Section 166 programs are also threatened by blockgranting approaches that may result in reduced or eliminated workforce funding for Native communities. Funders can provide flexible operating support, grantwriting and other development support, and gap funding to meet short-term, emergent needs.
Stronger Connections to Workforce Networks, Communities, and Funders
Listening session participants expressed the desire to be better connected to general workforce networks, including funders and advocates, to learn and to ensure that Native workforce priorities are included in any policy and funding recommendations.
Next Steps
Workforce Matters convenes an Advisory Committee for our Workforce Grantmaking in Native Nations and Communities initiative, composed of funders and Native field leaders. We will continue exploring how to share these findings with funders and partners as well as what Workforce Matters can do to help meet these needs. We also remain committed to partnering with organizations like NCAI to monitor shifts in the landscape as well as to share resources with funders and the field.
Resources
Participants in the listening sessions highlighted resources that have been useful for them for federal agency updates and news on workforce and economic development updates. They include:
https://federalnewsnetwork.com/
https://coalitionfortribalsovereignty.org/
https://www.democracy2025.org/response-center
https://nationalskillscoalition.org
https://nativeworkforcepartners.org
Tracking Project 2025 implementation: https://redwine.blue/project2025/
Tracking RIFs: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/02/rif-watch-see-which-agencies-are-laying-federal-workers/403342/?oref=ge-skybox-hp
https://coalitionfortribalsovereignty.org
https://tribalbusinessnews.com/
https://www.tribalfunding.org/signup, community@tribalfunding.org
Updates on federal funding cuts: https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration
These news resources have been helpful for federal agency updates. They have free newsletters and free subscriptions provide a limited level of free access to articles: https://federalnewsnetwork.com
Reddit has also been mentioned as another useful resource:
https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/firedfeds/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Whistleblowers/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NIH/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/1102/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/IndianCountry/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/DeptHHS/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NativeAmerican/new/
https://www.reddit.com/r/IronFrontUSA/new/
TCU Career Consortium hosts a monthly, facilitated conversations. To be added to the list, email: vhirsch@collegefund.org
P.L. 102-477 Tribal Work Group Listserv is another course.
A new tribal funding platform has been launched and was shared:
To sign up for a free account: www.tribalfunding.org/signup
Social platforms @tribalfunding
