Press Releases

On February 15th, Justin Ahasteen, the Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Washington Office, delivered testimony on behalf of the Navajo Nation President, Dr. Buu Nygren, before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. Titled "Economic Diversification to Create Prosperous Tribal Economies," the testimony shed light on the multifaceted challenges hindering Tribal Nation's pursuit of economic development across various sectors.

On behalf of the Navajo Nation, we express our profound disappointment in the removal of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments from the National Defense Authorization Act.

On December 5th, Delegate Carl Roessel Slater of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, representing the communities of Tsaile/Wheatfields, Lukachukai, Round Rock, Tséch’izhí, and Rock Point, delivered a poignant testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The hearing, titled “Limited Access and Damaging Gateway Economies: Examining the National Parks Air Tour Management Program,” included contributions from one federal witness and four non-federal witnesses.

The House passed a bipartisan short-term spending bill earlier Saturday afternoon to avert a government shutdown. A few hours later, on a vote of 88 to 9, the Senate approved the bill, and it will now proceed to the President's desk for signing.

It is with heavy hearts that the Navajo Nation Washington Office extends its deepest sympathies and condolences to the family of Senator Dianne Feinstein who passed away today. She was 90.

On September 28th, Bidtah Becker, the Chief Legal Counsel to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya, testified before the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs.

Washington, DC – The Honorable Crystalyne Curley, Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, testified today before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, focusing on "Water as a Trust Resource." This testimony comes as the Navajo Nation Council celebrates its 100th anniversary and continues to grapple with significant water access issues.

Houma, LA – The Navajo Nation Washington Office joyfully announces the christening of the USNS Navajo, an emblem of the Navajo Nation's spirit and resilience, marking an extraordinary moment in our Nation's timeline.

Washington, DC - The Navajo Nation has been awarded $5.55 million in funding from the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Plus (LFPA Plus) Program. The award, which will span over two years, is set to greatly enhance food security, bolster the local Navajo economy, and foster agricultural self-sufficiency within the Navajo Nation. This critical funding was secured through the tireless efforts by the Navajo Nation Washington Office, the Navajo Department of Agriculture, and the Navajo Agricultural Production Agency who worked collaboratively to bring this opportunity to fruition.

Washington, DC - In a 86-11 vote, the United States Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2024 with an amendment to extend and include post-1971 miners to receive Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) benefits beyond 2024. The passage of the legislation and amendment will mean that families who have suffered the consequences of radiation exposure will continue to receive critical care for debilitating and life threatning illnesses.

Washington, DC - Despite its noble intentions, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has significant shortcomings. It excludes countless individuals who were employed in the uranium industry post-1971, leaving many Navajo uranium workers without compensation for their sacrifices and suffering.

Washington, DC - The Navajo Nation Washington Office is extending an invitation to you for an upcoming press conference panel that we will be hosting regarding amendments to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) on July 27, 2023 at 10 am. The location will be at 750 First Street NE, Suite 940, Washington, DC 20002.

Window Rock, AZ – The Navajo Nation is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $20 million grant under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program by the United States Department of Transportation. This transformative grant will be used to reconstruct and improve approximately seven miles of Navajo Route 15, stretching from Sunrise Springs, Ariz., to Cornfields, Ariz.