Tribes sue federal government over education changes
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In February 2025, Donald Trump ordered layoffs of federal employees at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute, impacting courses, student services, and campus upkeep.
Ella Bowen, a student at Haskell and member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, joined the Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and Cheyenne Arapaho tribes, along with two other students, in a lawsuit against the federal government.
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) filed the suit, alleging the government did not consult with tribes before the staff reductions at the Bureau of Indian Education and its schools. NARF later expanded the lawsuit to challenge the Trump administration’s decision to move education programs from the Department of Education to the Departments of Interior and Labor. The organization claims federal officials again failed to consult with tribes, placing Indian education programs under agencies without the necessary expertise.
Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Rupnick stated the government is restructuring education “without consulting Tribal Nations” despite legal requirements for tribal input. The BIE oversees 55 elementary and secondary schools, funds 128 more run by tribes, and operates Haskell and SIPI, serving a total of approximately 40,000 students. NARF argues the BIE has a history of mismanagement and underfunding, and that Congress mandated consultation with tribes to address these issues.
The tribes involved are concerned the layoffs and program changes will disrupt student access to financial aid, housing, and meals, and could jeopardize Haskell’s accreditation. They also cite difficulties in communicating with federal officials and inconsistencies in program funding.
