News Alerts From Indian Country - Your Country

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So far in 2025, there have been more than 80 executive orders signed by the new administration, bringing rapid changes that will affect all Americans..

For members of Native communities, the effects of these changes can be even more complex.

Finding a way to respond to these changes is made difficult by the nature of Executive Orders, as there is no accountability to ordinary citizens, nor our elected representatives. We might not be able to stop what’s happening, but we can control how we handle it.

The College Fund has created this resource to help you connect the dots between new policy shifts and their effects on Native students, Tribal Colleges and Universities – and how Native communities will be impacted as policy changes continue to evolve and roll out. Because when everyone knows more, we can do more to protect opportunities for everyone.

On this page, you will never be asked for money. This space is designed for learning and action – no fundraising appeals in updates, just the facts you need.

Staying informed is the first step. Taking action is the next. Scroll down to explore the latest updates, learn from Native voices, and discover ways you can help.

What Matters in This Moment

I want to start by thanking those who have reached out in support of Native peoples. All of us at the American Indian College Fund and the students and the communities we serve are deeply touched by the outpouring of support.

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Issues Impacting Indian Country

Policy changes are happening fast – don’t get left behind. Check back regularly for the latest updates, and make sure you’re signed up for urgent alerts.

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Whats Happening and What Can We Do

The ripple effects of policy changes don’t stop at classrooms, legislation, or funding decisions. When Native students and institutions lose resources, entire communities feel the impact—because education is about more than degrees. It shapes economies, cultures, and futures.

Contact Us

Are you currently being impacted by executive orders or other current policy changes? We want to hear about it! Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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What Matters in This Moment:

A Note from Cheryl Crazy Bull, President and CEO, American Indian College Fund

January 30th, 2025

I want to start by thanking those who have reached out in support of Native peoples. All of us at the American Indian College Fund and the students and the communities we serve are deeply touched by the outpouring of support.

Today the importance of diverse thoughts, cultures, knowledge, and perspectives are being challenged. This concerns me for our students and the potential for lost opportunities. Even more, it saddens me for what this says about our nation and what will be lost, perhaps irretrievably. When people operate from a place of fear but also wield tremendous power, it can result in irreparable harm with impact beyond anyone’s understanding.

Every American understands the impact of a lack of access to education for our children individually and in community. When people are geographically remote, diverse, or without financial means, like most of the people we serve, the impact is even more devastating.

To date, we have lost funding for two significant scholarship programs that support nearly 100 students each year with meaningful scholarships. One hundred talented, smart, innovative, forward-thinking, young Native people are now faced with limited opportunities to complete their studies because people are afraid to stand up for democratic values.

It is hard for me to imagine where I would be in my own life and career if I had not embraced my identity and the importance of sharing my voice. It has not always been easy, but it has always served me well. As an elder in my tribal community and among Native people, I must use my voice because being an elder means exercising the leadership that is needed when our people are at risk of great harm. And in my workplace, where all of my team are younger than me and because I have children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren- I listen respectfully and with care to hear the voices of our young people who willingly and passionately share the future they want for themselves and for everyone on the planet.

In the past week I have listened to tribal leaders, non-profit leaders, politicians, colleagues, and people in our communities to learn more about the environment we are in before speaking.

When I reflect on my 13 years leading the College Fund, I see clearly how the contributions of people of all ages, cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds have helped us grow as an innovative organization. We create opportunities for students to access higher education, graduate, and go on to serve their communities in the workforce. We support tribally controlled colleges and universities to meet their students’ and communities’ needs in places where their institution may be the only one offering an affordable higher education.

No country and no community can afford to throw away the talents of its children. Every one of us has a gift to give, no one person’s gift is greater than another’s, and we cannot afford to squander anyone’s talents. We believe we are all relatives. We are colleagues, classmates, family members, and community members. In short, we are all connected. That is the very definition of community.

Today we are as committed to our mission and values as ever. We will continue to close the opportunity gap with financial and other resources to ensure our students’ access to and success in higher education. We continue our commitment to supporting the tribal colleges and universities which provide an affordable higher education and skilled graduates trained to meet the workforce needs of their communities in health care, education, science and technology, trades, business, and transportation.

Whether you are a supporter, a student, or an educator, I appreciate being able to hear from you about a time when you embraced a different perspective and how it helped you grow and learn. Please share your thoughts with me at prezcrazybull@collegefund.org.

Issues Impacting Indian Country and the Nation

Policy changes are happening fast – don’t get left behind. Check back regularly for the latest updates. 

Urgent! Oppose Cuts to Pell Grant Program!

The American Indian College Fund joins the National College Access Network in urging higher education allies to oppose massive cuts to the Pell Grant program and its support of our most vulnerable students.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” eliminates Pell Grants for an estimated 1.4 million, or 20% of current Pell Grant recipients – specifically including students attending college part-time while they work minimum wage jobs and/or care for family members. More than half of Pell Grant recipients would see their award reduced or eliminated, including more than 75% of Native American students attending a tribal college.

Don’t delay! Raise your voice today to prevent harmful cuts to the Pell Grant program and help hard-working TCU students complete their college educations.

Call your Senators today!

Take Action Today!

Please call your senators today and ask them to Save the Pell Grant Program.

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I’m calling to demand that [YOUR SENATOR’S NAME] oppose cutting the Pell Grant Program or reducing Pell Grant award amounts, as this will create unnecessary barriers to achieving a higher education for low-income students, especially American Indian and Alaska Natives. Educating the next generation of all Americans is not only a fundamental right, but is also critical to our nation’s future. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

 

The Issue

Under the Big, Beautiful Bill, only “full-time” students would be eligible for the maximum Pell Grant. This bill would increase full-time status from 12 credit hours per semester to 15 credit hours per semester, harming working students or students with families – those who need support the most.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the nonpartisan economic and budget analytics arm of Congress, estimates that if passed, more than half of current Pell Grant recipients will receive smaller grants and just a fifth of students will enroll in more credit hours to increase their award amount, thereby eradicating a large number of future college graduates who will enter their careers and contribute to the nation’s economy as taxpayers.

The CBO also estimates that if passed, more than 3 million students would be impacted by the eligibility changes and approximately 700,000 students would lose eligibility entirely.

Who It Affects

Low- and middle-income college students and aspiring college students, and in particular, tribal college students, 75% of whom receive Pell Grants.

What You Can Do:

Call your senators and ask them to oppose cutting the Pell Grant Program or reducing Pell Grant award amounts, as this will create unnecessary barriers to achieving a higher education for low-income students, especially American Indian and Alaska Natives. Educating the next generation of all Americans is a fundamental right and critical to our nation’s future.

Stop the SAVE Act

The SAVE Act would upend protections for Native citizens. Here’s what you need to know.

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Access to education is a right, not a privilege.

What’s Happening: An executive order and a reintroduced bill, H.R. 899, aim to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (DoE) entirely. While the executive order resulted in massive employment cuts of nearly 50%, and funding redirects,...

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Thank you, Haskell!

We Have Great News! Haskell Indian Nations University has announced it will rehire the faculty members who were recently laid off due to federal budget cuts. This is a huge victory for Native students – providing the security they need to...

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We need your voice, right now.

Eliminating the Department of Education would devastate public schools, hurt students with disabilities, strip away civil rights protections for millions of students, and eliminate crucial workforce development programs that boost our economy. Education is a fundamental right, not a privilege for the wealthy. Please, call your elected officials in Congress today and let them know why dismantling the Department of Education threatens the future for thousands of Native and non-native students.

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Indians and Citizenship – How Does It Work?

Indians and Citizenship – How Does It Work?

Immigration laws don’t always account for the unique legal status of Native peoples, especially those from tribal nations that cross international borders. Combine that with an increase in profiling and false immigration reports and...

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What Is an Executive Order? and How Do the EOs Enacted Impact Indian Country

What Is an Executive Order? and How Do the EOs Enacted Impact Indian Country

Executive Orders are powerful tools that allow presidents to enact policy changes without congressional approval. For Native communities, this means funding for education, healthcare, and infrastructure can shift and even disappear overnight. Unlike laws enacted by Congress, citizens and our elected represents lack the ability to override these orders except through extreme coordinated action, undermining a check on the power of the executive branch.

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What Is Lost If We Lose TCU’s

What Is Lost If We Lose TCU’s

Recent actions by the new White House administration show that funding for community-based organizations, higher education institutions, and rural programs are at risk of severe funding cuts or even elimination. Any pause of a federal...

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Why TCU’s Matter to the People Who Need Them

Why TCU’s Matter to the People Who Need Them

Connecting the Dots: Proposed changes to the educational system will affect everyone, but it can be difficult to see how it will impact Native students specifically. While many communities will lose schools, Native communities will lose...

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Whats Happening and what can we do About It?

The ripple effects of policy changes don’t stop at classrooms, legislation, or funding decisions. When Native students and institutions lose resources, entire communities feel the impact—because education is about more than degrees. It shapes economies, cultures, and futures.

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Stay Informed.

Check back regularly for updates on how these policies are evolving. By staying informed, you are taking a vital step in ensuring that information remains free and available, and that sudden policy shifts won’t sneak by unnoticed.

Contact Your Local Representative

If Indian Country is something you care for, get involved first-hand and call your government representative today. Their office will give the most recent updates on official executive orders and take notice of your advocacy.

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Get Involved

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Contact Form

Sign Up for Urgent Alerts and Stay On Top of the News Are you currently being impacted by executive orders or other current policy changes? We want to hear about it! Please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Sign Up for Urgent Alerts and Stay On Top of the News

Are you currently being impacted by executive orders or other current policy changes? We want to hear about it! Please don’t hesitate to reach out.