How are Tribal Nations preparing for rapid changes in federal policy?

Kennedy Satterfield

Communication and Digital Strategy Specialist, American Indian Policy Institute

Kennedy Satterfield (Choctaw Nation) is a digital communications strategist at AIPI whose work sits at the intersection of technology, communications, and Indigenous self-determination. She leads initiatives focused on digital sovereignty, broadband access and emerging technologies in Indian Country.

On paper, a recent wave of federal legislation aimed at Tribal Nations suggests unprecedented attention to Indigenous issues. On the ground, Tribal leaders say it feels more like a race and one that could have lasting consequences for sovereignty, self-governance and access to critical services. 

Why is federal policy changing so quickly right now?

In 2025 alone, more than 300 bills affecting Tribal Nations were signed into law, according to the American Indian Policy Institute, which tracks legislation impacting American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. The volume represents more than a 300% increase in legislative activity since 2022 and signals heightened attention to Indigenous policy at both the state and federal levels.

“It’s not that the policy has changed; it’s how it’s being carried out,” said Traci Morris, executive director of the American Indian Policy Institute. “We’re seeing more reliance on executive orders and on how courts and other actors interpret and modify them.”

In 2025, President Trump issued 225 executive orders, a pace that far exceeded recent administrations and is accelerating changes across federal agencies that regularly work with Tribal governments.

“We’re also experiencing policy changes at a new speed, with new orders coming out almost weekly and often with limited consultation with Tribal Nations,” Morris said.

How do these policy shifts affect Tribal sovereignty and governance?

Many of those orders focused on restructuring government operations to move faster and reduce administrative oversight. For Tribal Nations, that shift has direct consequences. Key federal partners, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, were among the agencies directed to streamline processes and adopt new technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Reductions in staffing aimed at improving efficiency, have also significantly affected the amount of time Tribal Nations spend navigating federal agencies.

“These systems are being deployed quickly, and they’re often treated as neutral or efficient by default,” Morris said. “But for Tribal Nations, the stakes are much higher when automated decisions affect health care, public safety or access to services.” Taken together, the speed of policy shifts, staffing reductions and new technologies has raised urgent questions about consultation, accountability and Tribal sovereignty.

How are Tribal leaders preparing for what comes next?

In February, the American Indian Policy Institute, in partnership with the Indian Legal Program at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, will co-host the 12th annual Wiring the Rez conference. The event brings together Tribal leaders, legal experts and scholars to examine the policy landscape and identify practical responses for Tribal Nations.

Kate Rosier, assistant dean of the Indian Legal Program, said the timing is critical.

“Tribal Nations are being asked to adapt to massive technological and policy changes in real time,” Rosier said. “Wiring the Rez creates space for leaders to slow down, compare strategies and assert sovereignty before these systems and policies become entrenched without Tribal input.”

As courts weigh challenges to executive actions and federal agencies continue implementing AI-driven systems, Tribal leaders say decisions made now could shape how sovereignty is exercised for decades. For many, Wiring the Rez has become a critical forum to assert sovereignty and prepare for a future shaped by rapidly evolving policy and technology.

Learn more and register for Wiring the Rez, Feb. 18-20, 2026.