Native Bidaské: How the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Is Impacting Native American Communities

What happens when billions in federal funding are promised—and then pulled back?

In this episode of Native Bidaské, host Levi Rickert is joined by Rob Maxim and Glencora Haskins of the Brookings Institution to discuss a new report examining how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has impacted Native American communities. The conversation breaks down the repeal of key Inflation Reduction Act provisions, the loss of green energy and SNAP-related funding, and why tribes continue to face systemic barriers when federal policies change.

The panel explores:
– How $2 billion in IRA funding reached tribal entities—and what its rollback means
– Why federal funding remains unreliable for tribal governments
– The burden placed on Native citizens to prove exemptions under SNAP work requirements
– The urgent need for better tribal data systems, verification tools, and federal support

This episode offers an unfiltered look at policy, power, and accountability—and why data, sovereignty, and sustained investment matter more than ever in Indian Country.
Read the Brookings Report here: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/how-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-is-cutting-climate-investments-and-weakening-the-safety-net-for-native-americans/

This Bidaské episode is brought to you by the American Indian College Fund. Founded in 1989, the American Indian College Fund is the nation’s largest Native-led and Native-serving charity dedicated to expanding access to higher education for American Indian and Alaska Native students.
Recently, the College Fund launched Because of You, a campaign honoring tribal college faculty—the heart of Native higher education. Because of You is an expression of gratitude for the dedication, passion, and presence of TCU faculty, and the many ways they support students every day. The centerpiece of the campaign is a powerful tribute video told from students’ perspectives that celebrates learning in community, preserving identity, and realizing dreams. To watch the video and support the American Indian College Fund’s mission, visit: https://collegefund.org/becauseofyou/.

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Written by Native News Online