SC Alaska News

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Brian Schatz recently presided over an oversight hearing focused on federal programs dedicated to supporting Native American students at the U.S. Department of Education. Murkowski, serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, emphasized the importance of the Department of Education in fulfilling its trust responsibilities to Native students who predominantly attend public schools.

“We have spent a lot of time in Committee talking about the Bureau of Indian Education, and for good reason. We are going to continue to do so. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that more than 90 percent of Native students across our country attend public schools. And the government fulfills its trust responsibility to those students through programs at the Department of Education, in addition to programs at the Interior, USDA, and HHS,” said Murkowski. She voiced concerns over proposals to alter or dismantle the Department of Education and potential negative impacts on Indian Education programs. “Given the major role that Department of Education funding plays in educating the next generation of Native students, I have heard—and I know many of my colleagues have heard—questions and concerns about recent proposals to alter or dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the recent Executive Orders calling for federal agency RIFs and reorganization plans. We’re here today to better understand the Indian Education programs at the Department of Education, how they impact Native students, families, and schools across our states, and why they must continue, and not be negatively impacted by these RIFs and reorganization plans,” Murkowski said.

Vice Chairman Schatz underscored the federal government's responsibility to provide education for American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives. He argued against the idea of closing the Department of Education, highlighting potential risks for Native students reliant on its support. “One of the federal government’s core trust and treaty responsibilities to American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Alaska Natives is to provide education. The Department of Education plays a critical role in fulfilling this promise, on everything from Impact Aid and Indian education programs, to Native language revitalization,” Schatz stated. He further noted, “Shuttering the Education Department would be devastating for Native students… more than 90 percent of whom attend public schools – as they will be at the mercy of state governments that have no trust or treaty responsibility to meet their unique needs. We have a duty to fight the president’s reckless plan on a bipartisan basis and protect Native students.”

The oversight hearing also welcomed several witnesses to discuss the impact of federal education programs. Interested parties have until April 16, 2025, to submit written testimonies. These can be directed to testimony@indian.senate.gov.