Tribal Economic Development: Policy Priorities for the Federal Government
Native Governance Center, 17 Partner Native Organizations Release New Economic Policy Brief for the Trump Administration
Brief Features 34 Consensus-Based Policy Priorities to Accelerate Economic Growth in Native Communities
Today, the Native Governance Center and 17 endorsing Native organization partners jointly released a comprehensive brief outlining 34 critical policy actions the Administration and its agencies can take in 2026 to enhance and grow the federal government’s support of Tribal Nations as they build and sustain vibrant economies that benefit not just Native people, but all Americans.
The brief, titled “Tribal Economic Development: Indian Country’s Policy Priorities for the Federal Government,” presents a progress report on the first year of the Administration’s second term with respect to Indian Country economic development and outlines the key steps the Administration can take to grow this progress in 2026. It serves as a comprehensive update to the policy brief the endorsing Native organizations provided to the Trump Administration Transition Team in late 2024.
Importantly, the brief details how Indian Country’s broad economic priorities align in key ways with those of the Administration, such as: modernizing the federal tax code; reducing federal red tape through deregulation; increasing federal and other investments in rural economic development; and strengthening local control to allow communities – including Native ones – to make decisions that fit their distinct needs and bolster economic sovereignty.
“President Trump has stated his top priority for Indian Country is to ‘respect tribal sovereignty and self-determination’ through a commitment ‘to empower Native American communities with the resources they need to promote self-determination,’” said President and CEO Chris James of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, which led development of the brief. “Empowering Native communities means fully embracing the sovereign status of Tribal Nations and supporting – through strengthened policies and regulations, effective and flexible programs, and ample funding – their proven ability to drive economic and job growth not just for Indian Country, but for all of America. This brief provides the Administration with a clear roadmap for reaching these worthy economic development goals.”
In the coming months, the Native Governance Center will work closely with its partners to share the brief with the Administration and educate key agency officials and staff about the brief’s specific policy priorities and how and why they should implement them.
To download, read, and share the brief and its related resources, please click here.