Filed Date: March 7, 2025
Case Ongoing
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This case challenged the Bureau of Indian Education’s (BIE) reorganization/restructuring and reduction of staff at BIE’s central and regional offices and the two BIE-operated post-secondary institutions—Haskell Indian Nations University and Southwest Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI)—in February 2025. (To see the Clearinghouse's collection of civil-service-related legal challenges to actions by the second Trump Administration, click here.)
In February 2025, without consulting with federally-recognized Tribal Nations, BIE instituted large-scale reductions in force (RIFs) after President Trump issued Executive Order 14210 ("Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Workforce Optimization Initiative") telling Agency Heads to develop Agency Reduction and Reorganizations Plans. As reported, these RIFs resulted in layoffs of over one quarter of the staff members at the only two federally run colleges for Native students, Haskell and SIPI.
Following these actions, on March 7, 2025, three federally-recognized Tribal Nations—Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes—and five individual tribal members who are students enrolled at post-secondary education institutions operated by BIE filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. They were represented by Native American Rights Fund. The lawsuit named the Secretary of Interior, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, and the Director of BIE as Defendants. Plaintiffs challenged BIE's decision to lay off employees throughout BIE and its post-secondary education institutions without consulting Tribal Nations. Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants' actions violated 25 U.S.C. §§ 2003 and 2011 and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). As such, they sought declaratory judgments, injunctive relief, and attorneys' fees and costs. In particular, they sought a declaratory judgment that Defendants failed to consult with the tribes as required by law, an injunction compelling the required consultations, and an injunction barring Defendants from taking further action on the BIE RIFs implemented in February 2025.
The case was assigned to District Judge Amir H. Ali on March 13, 2025.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Lacie Melasi (3/16/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69718515/parties/pueblo-of-isleta-v-secretary-of-the-department-of-the-interior/
Campbell, Matthew Lee (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69718515/pueblo-of-isleta-v-secretary-of-the-department-of-the-interior/
Last updated April 21, 2025, 3:15 p.m.
State / Territory: District of Columbia
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Appointments/Civil Service)
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 7, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Three federally-recognized Tribal Nations—Pueblo of Isleta, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes—and five individual tribal members who are students enrolled at post-secondary education institutions operated by U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Department of the Interior (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Bureau of Indian Education (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Affected Race(s):
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: