Tribal leaders in Oklahoma scramble to keep BIA services afloat amidst DOGE closures
Under the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency, Bureau of Indian Affairs offices are undergoing sudden and unexpected layoffs and closures across the state. Tribal leaders are taking matters into their own hands to mitigate the impact on their citizens.
By Katie Hallum (ᏧᏟ), Sarah Liese (Twilla), KOSU
Following numerous layoffs across Indian Country earlier this week, agencies across Oklahoma in Watonga, Pawnee, Seminole, Osage and Carnegie were listed for closure on DOGE’s ‘Wall of Receipts.’ Additionally, layoffs were reported at the Miami Agency, with 15 employees losing their jobs.
These listings gave no detail on why these agencies were being closed, what was housed there and what services would be affected—leaving tribal officials scrambling for answers.
For Chief of the Seminole Nation Lewis Johnson, the potential closure of the Wewoka Agency closure is personal.
“Even when I was a kid, I remember the local Wewoka Agency and the different things that took place,” Johnson said in an interview with KOSU.
As he grew up and assumed more responsibilities within the tribe, so did the agency. The building, located in Seminole, is home to departments that handle land acquisitions, mineral rights and fire management and prevention.
Notably, agency firefighters have responded to major wildfires across the country.
“Our people were always ready to mobilize and go help,” he said. “Those are things that we're concerned about… Delays into the efficiencies and the service of those deliveries—those will be administrative challenges.”
Those challenges include redistributing services to local agencies, which will cause delays in services and travel burdens on tribal members.
Because of this, Johnson devised another solution to ensure the BIA services will continue.
“Some of the long-tenured employees that had worked at the agency, like the realty director, I offered my office,” Johnson said. “We'll make space in an office for that person to be able to continue the work.”
Similarly, Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said in a statement that the tribe’s Secretary of Development, Casey Johnson, is brainstorming another office space for the Osage Indian Agency. He noted he is unsure what this agency closure means for the employees there.
“With this notice from the federal government, we are unsure if the BIA or the GSA will accept an alternative space offer for the BIA employees,” Standing Bear said in a statement. “We have been anticipating this and will continue working daily to mitigate damage and alleviate the anxiety federal cuts are causing Osage Nation, our people, and our communities”
Johnson said DOGE’s cuts neglect those who live in rural areas that rely on these services.
“They’re cutting (these agencies) down because of funding, money or figures, and they're not really taking into consideration these people's lives,” he said. “They serve a purpose within Indian Country. It lightens that burden on the nation itself.”
In a letter to Johnson, the Eastern Oklahoma Region of the BIA, who oversees these local offices, said the issue of the closures was being brought to the Department of the Interior as they worked to keep services running.
“The Wewoka Agency provides direct services to the Seminole Nation as well as the restricted land owners of the original allottees of the Seminole Nation. We stand firm in our duty to continue these statutory and Treaty defined obligations. We were just as blindsided as the Tribe by the unilateral decision of GSA to terminate the lease of the Agency,” the letter reads. “However, this is not a closure of our legal obligation to the Tribe. We stand firm in our federal obligation. This issue has been elevated to the heads of the Department of Interior, and they are well aware of the impacts on a local level.”
A spokesperson for BIA under the Department of the Interior did not answer questions about the potential closures.
“The Department of the Interior is committed to upholding federal responsibilities to tribal communities,” they wrote in an email. “Indian Affairs offices remain open and continue to provide services. The Department of the Interior is working with GSA to ensure facilities will be available for the continued delivery of BIA services.”
In a statement to his tribe, Johnson affirmed Seminole leaders would remain vigilant.
“Indigenous peoples will stand together just as our native grassroots people have demonstrated resilience for so many years. ‘May the Blessings from the Creator continue to be with all,’” he said. “These trying times will pass.”
NIGC Recognized Best Federal Agency to Work For in 2024
Washington, D.C. – The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is recognized as the top Best Places to Work in the Federal Government for 2024 among small agencies.
This important recognition from the Partnership for Public Service is based on the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, the most comprehensive assessment of employee engagement and satisfaction across the federal workforce, highlighting NIGC’s commitment to fostering a positive and engaging work environment for its employees.
This is the second consecutive year the Agency has topped the list. Acting Chair Sharon M. Avery expressed pride in this significant achievement, emphasizing the agency’s dedication to its workforce and mission. “Our employees are the heart of NIGC, and this recognition underscores the exceptional workplace environment fostered by leaders at all levels and carried through every aspect of the Agency’s daily work with Tribes.” NIGC Chief of Staff, Dustin Thomas added “We’re committed to keeping NIGC a place where our team feels valued, motivated, and inspired.”
The annual Best Places to Work rankings, compiled by the Partnership for Public Service, evaluate federal agencies based on key workplace factors such as leadership, work-life balance, employee engagement, and overall job satisfaction. NIGC’s top ranking reflects its steadfast focus on employee well-being, professional development, and a strong sense of purpose in regulating and supporting tribal gaming enterprises.
For more information about the National Indian Gaming Commission, visit www.nigc.gov.
MCN sues Tulsa County District Attorney and Sheriff
The Nation’s lawsuit seeks to end prosecutions by Tulsa County of Native Americans on the reservation.
By Jerrad Moore, Assignment Editor
TULSA, Okla. – The Muscogee Creek Nation’s lawsuit against the city of Tulsa currently has a stay in effect until March 18, so that both parties can engage in settlement discussions. Since the stay was issued, newly elected Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols has instructed Tulsa City attorneys to send traffic citations involving tribal citizens to tribal courts for review. Mayor Nichols ran a successful campaign that included working with tribal governments on the jurisdictional issue as a key part of his platform.
According to media reports, Tulsa County District Attorney Stephen Kunzweiler has stated publicly that the Tulsa Police Department has not been forwarding cases to his office when they involve citizens of tribal nations. Kunzweiler sent a letter to Mayor Nichols asking that he “facilitate the delivery of criminal case referrals to the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office for review and potential prosecution by the State of Oklahoma.”
Kunzweiler’s justification for the ongoing prosecution of non-Mvskoke tribal citizens on the Mvskoke Reservation is the recent O’Brian decision from the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. This decision held that the City of Tulsa had jurisdiction over Native Americans that have committed crimes in Tulsa County, as long as they are not Mvskoke citizens.
In response to Kunzweilers continued attempts to prosecute tribal citizens, the MCN filed another lawsuit, this time against Tulsa County, Kunzweiler and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regolato. The suit seeks a declaratory judgement that the county lacks criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens and continued assertion of that jurisdiction violates federal law. The suit also seeks an injunction barring the DA from exercising criminal jurisdiction over tribal citizens.
Time to eat some Wild Onions!!
Here is a short list of places to eat your share of wild onion's. I'm sure there are more places to eat tomorrow. But here is what I found. Please be sure to attend!
Pickett Chapel
Wild Onion Dinner
Saturday, March 8
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
17610 S. Hickory, Sapulpa, OK
Adults $15, Child $8
Eufaula Canadian Tribal Town
Wild Onion Dinner
Saturday, March 8
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
$12/plate, Children 12 & under $6
800 Birkes Road, Eufaula, OK
Norman First American UMC
Wild Onion Dinner
Saturday, March 8
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Adults $15, Children under 6 $8
1950 Beaumont Dr., Norman, OK
