The Winnebago Tribal Council is closely monitoring developments in Washington D.C., and we have engaged our allies in Congress to push back against any potential disruptions to our tribal programs.
The White House’s call for a spending freeze on certain federal assistance has sent shock waves throughout our community and all Indian Country. In response to the mass confusion it created, today the White House stated that “the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President’s Executive Orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.”
Moments before it was set to go into effect, a D.C. federal judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze. This action prevents the Trump administration from carrying through with its plans to freeze funding for “open awards” already granted by the federal government through at least 5 p.m. ET on Monday, February 3rd.
We stand on the Winnebago Treaty of 1865 and are a Tribal Nation with distinct political status.
We will continue to provide you with updates as we learn more.