Budget & Appropriations

Budget and Appropriations

We advocate for the fulfillment of the federal trust and treaty obligations, including full funding for federal Indian programs. Because of our history and unique relationship with the U.S., the trust obligation of the federal government to Tribal Nations, as reflected in the federal budget, is fundamentally different from ordinary discretionary spending and should be considered mandatory in nature. Inadequate funding to Indian Country needs to be viewed as unfilled treaty and trust obligations and should not be vulnerable to year to year “discretionary” decisions by appropriators. Federal spending in fulfillment of trust and treaty obligations is not responsible for the federal deficit and must be held harmless as our nation seeks to reduce its debt. USET SPF envisions a future in which federal funding to Tribal Nations is no longer a discretionary choice and all dollars are contractable and compactable.