Johnson: “We Must do Better for Tribes”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) urged Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Department of Government Efficiency Chair Elon Musk to examine the waste, fraud, and abuse of funds for Indian country. Many healthcare, education, and law enforcement facilities in Indian country are not receiving the necessary funds for upkeep and operations.
“We believe in our duty to provide critical resources to tribes and tribal citizens. But as Members of Congress, we have a duty to ensure that federal taxpayer dollars are being used wisely,” wrote the members. “Funding must reach in-need tribal communities, rather than sit in an empty federal government building while Native Americans continue to face records levels of poverty, inadequate healthcare, and lack of proper law enforcement.”
Background:
In February, the House Natural Resources Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing that highlighted the severe lack of oversight and mismanagement of the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Johnson advocated for this hearing earlier this year.
Examples of mismanaged funds:
- A Department of Interior (DOI) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report showed one BIE-operated school had transferred $1.2 million in federal funds to an offshore account.
- A DOI OIG report demonstrated BIE’s systemic mismanagement and noted a more than $1 billion backlog in deferred maintenance.
- BIE was responsible for over $900 million in COVID-19 funds. Half of the COVID-19 funds used on purchase cards were flagged for being “elevated-risk transactions.”
The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), and Harriet Hageman (R-WY).
Read the full letter here.
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Dusty, how about doing better for the American people and South Dakotans by stopping Trump from ruining the economy? DO SOMETHING!
Trump is not ruining the economy. The people who ruined the economy are the ones who didn’t “buy local.”
Let’s bring it up at a town hall.
Dusty come home to south dakota and get an ear full. A non invite town hall,maybe in sioux falls.
Aberdonians would appreciate a non invite open to the public town hall too. Give everyone notice se we can plan a respectful townhall.
Seriously, where are your electronics and appliances from?
While Politicians talk about doing better for the tribes, Governor Rhoden is actually here in SD doing exactly that. We haven’t had a Governor more well-liked by the Natives in my lifetime. Hard for me to consider a vote for Dusty when all he does is puff smoke in the direction where Rhoden is getting the actual work done. I only say that because everything Dusty has ever done or been involved in has been strictly for the betterment of his next campaign and Ive been tired of it for years now. Just wait until he starts wearing a cowboy hat!! Hahahaha