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By Kevin Bogardus | 04/10/2024 04:33 PM EDT
The Government Accountability Office determined that agencies need to help tribes overcome “statutory and regulatory barriers” to access the Justice40 Initiative.
Wolf Ramerez of Houston raises his fist with other members of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas in front of the White House on Oct. 11, 2021. Andrew Harnik/AP
Tribes are struggling to access aid from President Joe Biden’s high-profile push to help disadvantaged communities long burdened with pollution, a congressional watchdog office found.
The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday that determined tribes are facing long-standing roadblocks when trying to take part in the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative. The effort, established by an executive order the president signed soon after taking office, aims to send 40 percent of federal benefits to marginalized places across the country.
Agencies have sought to identify “statutory and regulatory barriers to access” for tribes, but further outreach with those affected “could help tribal applicants more readily access covered programs, consistent with the Justice40 goal and executive orders,” the report said.
Those barriers include meeting requirements for cost sharing, applying to competitive programs and being overwhelmed by administrative paperwork. Some challenges are unique to tribes, such as not being able to pledge tribal trust land as collateral and agencies not considering tribes’ traditional stewardship as part of their requests for funds.
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