Navajo Nation Leaders Applaud Federal Government Reopening

Federal government reopens for business.

Published January 26, 2019

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer are pleased with today’s announcement from President Trump to end to the longest federal government shutdown in history on a temporary basis, through a stopgap funding measure to fund the government through February 15.

“Through the leadership of the Nez-Lizer Administration and the 24^th Navajo Nation Council, we have been reaching out to our Congressional leaders and others to demand an end to the shutdown due to the increasing impacts on our people, so we are pleased with today’s announcement,” said President Nez. “Even with today’s announcement, we will continue calling on President Trump and Congress to fully fund the government and end the cycle of continuing resolutions that get us from one deadline to the next.”

Vice President Lizer said, “The Navajo Nation along with other Indian tribes must continue reminding the federal government of their trust and treaty obligationsto provide services such as healthcare, education, and public safety even in times of a government shutdown.”

Since the shutdown began on Dec. 22, it has affected contracted Indian Health Service employees, certain services provided through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and schools that rely on Bureau of Indian Education staff for certain administrative services, such as human resources and technical assistance.

Stopgap funding measures impact critical governmental services for Navajo citizens, but without long-term appropriations these services will continue to suffer, according to President Nez.

The Nez-Lizer Administration will continue to closely monitor the details surroundingthe agreement to end the shutdown and any potential impacts to the Navajo Nation.

“We will proceed carefully and work diligently to prevent any detrimental effects to our programs and our Navajo citizens,” added President Nez.