- Details
- By Levi Rickert
Opinion. Across the federal bureaucracy, Indian Country engages with numerous departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Department of the Interior, Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately 20 federal agencies directly impact Indian Country on an ongoing basis.
As the incoming administration transition team announces President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees, it is crucial to scrutinize the nominees because of the vast authority they have leading the federal departments.
Several cabinet secretary nominees have raised concerns, including Matt Gaetz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Matt Gaetz
Matt Gaetz, initially nominated by Trump to be Attorney General, has already withdrawn his name from the process—a development that many view as good news for the country. His nomination announced on Nov. 13, 204, he withdrew eight days later.
Given the Justice Department’s critical role in Indian Country, I closely followed Gaetz’s nomination and withdrawal. From the outset, I found his selection by President-elect Trump absurd because I have been following the accusations of his improper sexual relations with a minor female that have been under investigation.
Media reports suggested that Gaetz, a staunch Trump loyalist, would prioritize retribution against Trump’s perceived adversaries. However, my concerns went beyond potential partisan retaliation. The Justice Department has substantial responsibilities in addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) crisis. Native Americans—both women and men—go missing at epidemic rates, often due to human trafficking.
Gaetz’s alleged history of misconduct, including accusations of paying minors for sex and providing drugs, made him an unsuitable candidate to address human trafficking and other serious issues affecting Native communities.
The media’s persistent coverage of Gaetz’s controversies was instrumental in holding him accountable. Come January 20, 2025, with Republicans controlling the presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court, the media’s role as a watchdog has become even more vital in maintaining democratic guardrails.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump’s selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has alarmed many. HHS, which oversees the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), has over 80,000 employees and a projected budget of $1.7 trillion for 2025.
RFK Jr.’s lack of a healthcare background and managerial experience raises significant concerns. His controversial stance against vaccines, unsupported by medical science, has made his nomination especially troubling.
Experts have highlighted the life-saving impact of vaccines, with research published in The Lancet estimating that vaccines have saved 154 million lives over the past half-century—an average of six lives every minute. RFK Jr.’s baseless claims about vaccines undermine public health efforts.
Additionally, Kennedy’s opposition to fluoride in drinking water, based on dubious assertions about its effects on children’s IQ, contradicts established scientific evidence. While most approvals for water fluoridaton are made at state and local levels of governments, his assertion is still troubliing because of the lack of scientific backing.
Doug Burgum
Among the nominees, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice to replace outgoing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), appears to be a more balanced selection. Burgum, who has governed North Dakota since 2016, appears to be a capable leader.
The Interior Department is critical for Indian Country, housing agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Office of Special Trustee, and Bureau of Land Management.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric often emphasized economic solutions through increased tariffs and domestic oil production, epitomized by the slogan “Drill, baby, drill.” Burgum is expected to carry out this agenda as Interior Secretary.
In the previous Trump administration, officials told Native leaders that 20% of untapped U.S. energy reserves are on tribal lands. If confirmed, Burgum’s approach to tribal energy resources must be carefully monitored to prevent exploitation and adverse health impacts, such as those caused by uranium mining on Navajo lands, which led to a rise in cancer cases.
Contrary to Trump’s claims, domestic oil production under the Biden-Harris administration has exceeded that of the first Trump administration, undermining criticisms of the current administration’s energy policies.
Conclusion
I am relieved that Gaetz is no longer under consideration for Attorney General. RFK Jr., however, remains an alarming choice for HHS due to his lack of qualifications and promotion of harmful misinformation.
As for Burgum, I hope he recognizes the importance of protecting sacred tribal sites and maintaining the enhanced tribal consultations established under the Biden-Harris administration. The Interior Secretary must balance energy exploration and development with the preservation of Indian Country’s cultural and environmental integrity.
Thayék gde nwéndëmen - We are all related.
More Stories Like This
Leading the Way in Rare Disease AdvocacyFor Native Communities, Medicaid Is a Promise Washington Must Keep
“One Beautiful Bill” Would Be a Tragic Setback for Indian Country
Federal Courts Left (Not) to Protect Sacred Sites
Joining the Call to Save Job Corps
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
