Notice to Samish Indian Nation Citizens Regarding Recent White House Directive and its Impact on Tribal Programs

 February 14, 2025

 To the Citizens of the Samish Indian Nation:

You may now be aware of a critical and urgent issue that may significantly affect our Tribe and the vital services we rely on through federal programs. Last night, we learned that the White House's Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has directed agencies across the federal government to begin the process of terminating nearly all employees that are still within their probationary periods.

 Approximately 200,000 federal employees are expected to be impacted, with numerous agencies that directly serve Tribes, such as the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Indian Education, and the Department of Justice’s Office of Tribal Justice, not exempt from this directive. In fact, thousands of employees within these agencies—many of whom provide crucial services to our Tribe—are slated to be terminated by today, February 14th, 5:00 pm ET.

 Federal agencies that serve Indian Country are already struggling to provide essential services, including healthcare, public safety, education, and emergency management. A reduction of this scale threatens to cripple these services, undermining the federal government’s responsibility to fulfill its commitments to our Tribe and others across Indian Country.

 We strongly urge you to take action by contacting your Members of Congress and relevant political appointees in the Administration to demand that all federal positions serving Indian Country be exempted from these workforce reductions.

 It is imperative that we stand together to protect the essential services we depend on.

 What You Can Do Now:

1. Contact your Congressional Representatives in your district and Senators, urging them to protect the federal workforce that serves Indian Country. Please visit this website to find your representative and link to contact information. 
2. Call the representative of the agencies listed below to express your concerns.
3. Stay informed. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide timely updates but encourage all citizens to stay up-to-speed on actions taken by the White House.

 The Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr.: 1-877-696-6775

Tell them:

• We strongly oppose efforts to minimize the federal health care workforce, as it will negatively impact the Indian Health Service's ability to deliver health care.
• The IHS is already plagued by staffing shortages and underfunding, and this move would endanger critical medical services, including emergency care, maternity services, and cancer treatment.

 The Department of the Interior Secretary, Doug Burgum: 202-208-3100

 Tell them:

• We strongly oppose efforts to minimize the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ workforce, which will hinder the BIA’s ability to fulfill its statutory and trust responsibilities to Indian Nations.
• The BIA is already underfunded and understaffed, and this action threatens its ability to uphold its trust and treaty obligations to our Tribe and others.

 Together, we can ensure that our Tribe's interests and the well-being of all of Indian Country are protected. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and we will keep you informed as more information becomes available.

 Yours in solidarity,
Tom Wooten, Chairman of the Samish Indian Nation