- Details
- By Levi Rickert
The long-waited nomination for William “Billy” Kirkland is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Kirkland, a tribal citizen of the Navajo Nation, was nominated for U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs by President Donald Trump on February 3, 2025.
The position that was occupied by Bryan Newland (Bay Mills Indian Community) during the Biden administration has been vacant since Newland left on January 20, 2025.
Kirkland was a part of the White House staff during Trump’s first term, serving as special assistant to the president and deputy director for Intergovernmental Affairs, acting as a key liaison between the White House and Tribal governments.
After his nomination, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) praised his nomination, noting his commitment to strengthening government-to-government relationships and tribal sovereignty.
"NCAI looks forward to engaging with Kirkland upon his confirmation to protect and further strengthen the government-to-government relationship and advance policy priorities that support Tribal Nations," NCAI President Mark Macarro said. "We remain committed to working in partnership with the Department of the Interior to uphold tribal sovereignty."
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren also praised Kirkland’s nomination.
“I am pleased that the Trump administration has selected someone of his high caliber,” Nygren said to Native News Online. “Mr. Kirkland is well-positioned to accomplish significant work for both the administration and Indian Country.”
Following the committee vote, the nomination will proceed to a full Senate confirmation vote.
Secretary for Indian Affairs within the Department of the Interior. The hearing is open to the public, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Event Details:
WHAT:
Murkowski and Schatz to lead Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Nomination Hearing
WHEN:
TOMORROW, July 16, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. ET
WHERE:
Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room: 628
Live video of the event will be available here.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Deb Haaland Sounds Alarm on Impact of Republican-Backed Healthcare Cuts on Rural New Mexico
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and Destinations International Partner to Amplify U.S. Indigenous Tourism Globally
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
