Tribal Nations Sue U.S. Government Over Native Education Cuts

The lawsuit challenges abrupt staffing reductions at federally supported Native colleges, citing treaty obligations and lack of consultation.

Three tribal nations and five Native students have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, citing illegal staffing cuts to Native-serving colleges and the Bureau of Indian Education.
The cuts, ordered by the Trump administration and the Department of Government Efficiency, eliminated roughly a quarter of staff at Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI).
Students report deteriorating conditions, including overflowing trash, unsafe water, power outages, and delays in financial aid, with some campuses unable to administer exams due to faculty shortages.
The lawsuit alleges the U.S. government violated treaty obligations to provide educational opportunities for Native communities and failed to consult tribal nations before implementing the cuts.
The affected tribal nations—Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes—emphasize the critical role these institutions play in their communities and demand restoration of services.