Tribal Feedback on USDA Reorg

Tribes Should Submit Written Comments on USDA’s Proposed Reorganization

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pursuing a reorganization that could significantly alter how it delivers programs and engages with Tribal governments. While USDA describes the effort as a way to improve efficiency, it raises concerns about potential impacts on Tribal sovereignty, access to services, and the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations. As Tribal leaders submit comments through the end of next week, here are some high-level asks that should be made:

Maintain Forest Service Regional Offices and Expertise

Last month, USDA held hybrid Tribal consultations in Washington, D.C., and Denver, CO. These sessions highlighted major Tribal concerns, especially regarding the proposed elimination of Forest Service Regional Offices and the need to strengthen, not weaken, relationships with Tribes.

Regional Foresters play a statutory role in forest management, co-stewardship, and consultation. Removing or consolidating these offices could distance USDA from the communities it serves and undermine accountability and effective forest management.

Tribes should emphasize that USDA must retain regional Forest Service and National Forest System (NFS) positions with local expertise in markets, ecosystems, and community needs. Maintaining this regional presence ensures responsiveness, legal compliance, and consistent program delivery across regions.

Preserve Tribal Expertise within NRCS Regional Realignment

USDA also proposes aligning Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) regions with five hub locations: Salt Lake City, UT; Fort Collins, CO; Kansas City, MO; and Indianapolis, IN. While local NRCS offices are expected to remain open, Tribes should seek assurance that the restructuring will preserve Tribal expertise within the agency.

NRCS staff who understand the unique challenges of working on Tribal lands—and can coordinate effectively with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Tribal governments—are indispensable. USDA must work closely with Tribes to ensure regional changes do not isolate or disadvantage Indian Country.

Hold Additional Consultations and Strengthen Legal Expertise

USDA should hold additional consultations during major Tribal gatherings, such as the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Annual Convention, to ensure broader participation.

The Department should also expand its Office of General Counsel to include more attorneys with treaty and statutory expertise relevant to Indian Country. Within the Forest Service and NFS, regular government-to-government meetings – not just formal consultations – would improve coordination, accelerate project timelines, and reduce conflicts.

Address Misalignment Between USDA and Tribal Jurisdictions

Because many USDA programs are structured around state and county systems that don’t align with Tribal jurisdictions, misalignment can limit access to loans, conservation programs, and infrastructure support. Written Tribal comments should document these barriers and urge USDA to ensure its reorganization fully incorporates Tribal trust and fee lands into program design and service delivery.

Develop Flexible, Long-Term Partnership Agreements

USDA and the Forest Service should co-develop master agreements with Tribes to provide flexible, legally sound frameworks for collaboration under authorities such as the Tribal Forest Protection Act, Good Neighbor Authority, and co-stewardship initiatives. Such agreements would streamline project development, increase efficiency, and strengthen long-term partnerships.

Strengthen Farm Service Centers and Staffing

Farm Service Centers – housing the Farm Service Agency (FSA), NRCS, and Rural Development (RD) – are critical for Tribal producers’ access to loans, conservation planning, and technical support. Many centers are already understaffed, and reorganization could worsen this problem. Tribes should identify specific offices facing shortages in their written comments.

Staffing gaps can have severe consequences: producers with FSA loans often need FSA signatures to process payments, and delays can jeopardize lease payments, food sovereignty, and local economies. USDA must ensure adequate staffing and continuity at local and regional levels to prevent such disruptions.

The Path Forward

USDA’s proposed reorganization presents both risk and opportunity. By submitting written comments, Tribal Nations can ensure that the new structure strengthens program delivery, preserves local expertise, and fulfills the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities. Tribal input is essential to ensure that USDA’s future structure reflects the needs, rights, and sovereignty of Indian Country. Written comments from Tribal governments are due by November 15^th and can be submitted via email to Tribal.Relations@usda.gov.