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Trying to Avoid Government Shutdown, Congress Passes More FY26 Appropriations

  • Skenandore Wilson LLP
  • Jan 21
  • 3 min read

1/20/2026


Floor of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C.   –  With a January 30, 2026 deadline approaching, Congress made more progress passing appropriations bills to keep the Federal government open.  Bills to provide Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding for the Department of the Interior, the Indian Health Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and other key agencies passed Congress last week.  


Funding for Interior and Indian Health Service has passed Congress as a part of a three bill “minibus” spending package.  The package passed the Senate in a bipartisan 82-15 vote.  The package passed the House in the prior week and is now headed to the President’s desk for signature.  The package includes funding for Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Energy-Water. This package rejects nearly $1 billion in proposed cuts to Indian Country and secures essential funding for healthcare, public safety, and infrastructure. 


Congress will next consider bills to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development which includes tribal housing programs.  Even if these final bills do not pass before the January 30th deadline, at a minimum, Interior and the Indian Health Service will remain open.


Below is a summary of the “minibus” package passed by Congress which will be sent to the President for enactment into law:


Indian Health Service (IHS)

The bill provides a total of $8.05 billion in total resources for IHS, a program increase of $87.1 million over fiscal year 2025, ensuring that clinics and hospitals can stay open and staffed.

  • Advance Appropriations: The bill includes $5.31 billion in advance appropriations for FY 2027.  

  • Urban Indian Health: Funding for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) saw a boost to $95.42 million, a $5 million increase over FY 2025 levels.

  • Staffing for New Facilities: $42.32 million to ensure newly constructed clinics are fully staffed.

  • Dental Health: $260.36 million, representing a $6.24 million increase.

  • Produce Prescription Pilot: $7 million, a $4 million increase, to expand access to traditional foods and nutrition.

  • Tribal Epidemiology Centers: $39.43 million, a $5 million increase for critical data and health tracking.

  • Sanitation Facilities: $107.94 million for clean water and waste systems, a $1.3 million increase.

  • Health Care Facilities Construction: $184.68 million, including $13 million specifically for staff housing to help recruit doctors to remote areas.


Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

The BIA received approximately $2.49 billion, with a heavy emphasis on public safety.

  • Public Safety and Justice: $570.06 million, a $14.5 million increase to support Tribal law enforcement and courts.

  • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Initiative: $18.5 million, a $2 million increase.

  • Forensics & DNA: $48 million for Tribal technical resources in criminal investigations.

  • Indian Guaranteed Loan Program: $13.3 million, successfully restored after being targeted for elimination.

  • Full funding for Contract Support Costs and Tribal 105(l) leases.


Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)

  • $1.13 billion for BIE, with $834 million for school operation costs.  

  • $234.7 million for the construction and repair of BIE-funded schools to help address the backlog of infrastructure needs.


Other Notable Amounts

  • Tribal Historic Preservation: $23.75 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs).

  • Tribal Forestry: Over $310 million for forest management.

  • Tribal Energy Loan Program: $6.3 million to support Tribal energy projects.

  • Water Rights & Rural Water: The bill includes $75 million for rural water projects, which supports both Tribal and non-tribal water infrastructure, particularly in the West.

Wildlife Grants: $6.2 million in competitive grants via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.


Skenandore Wilson LLP is dedicated to the representation of Tribal Nations, Tribal entities, and individual Tribal members throughout Indian Country.  Our mission is to support and advance the sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and self-governance of our Tribal clients.  To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us at info@skenandorewilson.com or 608-608-1210.

 
 
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