GAO

More than 70 out of over 200 Alaska Native villages face significant environmental threats from erosion, flooding, or thawing permafrost, according to a 2019 statewide assessment. Consequences from even a moderate flood or increasing erosion could be significant (see fig.), and over one-third of these communities face the compounding effects of more than one threat. …

Alaska Native Issues: Federal Agencies Could Enhance Support for Native Village Efforts to Address Environmental Threats Read More »

Federal funding from 2015–2020 has increased broadband access for people living on tribal lands, but access continues to lag behind the rest of the country. Nationwide, conservative estimates show more than 18 percent of people living on tribal lands remain unserved by broadband as of 2020, compared to about 4 percent of people in non-tribal …

Tribal Broadband: National Strategy and Coordination Framework Needed to Increase Access Read More »

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provides information to tribal stakeholders and others on agency-reported federal funding for programs that benefit Native Americans (see figure). This information is known as the Native American Crosscut. Proposed Funding for Programs That Benefit Native Americans, Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 President’s Budget GAO found that five selected …

Tribal Funding: Actions Needed to Improve Information on Federal Funds That Benefit Native Americans Read More »

The Indian Health Service (IHS) received more than $9 billion in COVID-19 relief funding, an amount 50 percent greater than its fiscal year 2020 total budget authority. These funds have been used to address both immediate and longstanding needs. IHS allocated funds across the IHS system—including to federal, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities—for health …

Indian Health Service: Relief Funding and Agency Response to COVID-19 Pandemic Read More »