Gov. Noem Calls for Audit of Federal Funding to SD Tribes
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem called for the Biden Administration to conduct public and comprehensive single audits of all federal funds that have been given to South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes. The primary purpose of this audit would be to verify the need for additional law enforcement resources from the federal government on these tribal reservations. You can find Governor Noem’s letter here.
“Law enforcement in Indian Country is failing to meet basic safety needs,” wrote Governor Noem. “For years, the level of actual funding drastically underestimates the true breadth of the challenges of Indian Country, made worse by the failed border policies of the Biden Administration and exacerbated by the presence of drug cartel operations on South Dakota tribal reservations. To understand the funding level that is necessary to keep these communities safe, I am calling on the Biden Administration to conduct a comprehensive and public audit of all federal funds to South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes.”
The letter was sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.
“I stand ready to advocate for more public safety dollars and have even shown a willingness to use state resources to fill the gap that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has left. But there must be accountability and transparency to further these efforts,” concluded Governor Noem.
Last month, Governor Noem urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to address public safety on Native American reservations across the United States.
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Love me some Ian here. Claim bc your feelings are hurt and ring not kissed that the tribes don’t support you, fawn over you, because amongst maybe other things they benefit from the illegal drug trade. When called out, ask the Biden administration to prove you are not wrong. And that Santa doesn’t exist.
Accountability and transparency is favorable for all entities.
Right. Noem should release all her travel records. and lists of all visitors to the office and mansion as well as all expenditures of the executive branch. Since records are released after the fact she could not claim security measure. That would be accountability and transparency
SD Citizens Call for Audit of Gov. Noem
Next Governor, Johnson/Rhoden/whoever should seriously consider borrowing a page from Mickelson’s playbook and do another year of reconciliation with the tribes. With so many issues requiring attention out there, everyone needs to at least be civil with each other.
As for the rest of Noem’s time, I think both sides would benefit from some benign neglect towards each other.