Call to Action: Department of Education to Host Tribal Consultation on Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Priority Development

The Office of Indian Education (OIE) will conduct a Tribal consultation session on the Department of Education’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request. The purpose of this consultation is to receive meaningful input from American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities regarding the development of the Department’s budget priorities. The consultation will take place on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. ET via ZoomGov. 

The Department invites Tribal leaders to provide input on the following questions:

1. What are your community’s most critical education needs? Which Department programs meet, or attempt to meet, those education needs?
2. How do you believe the Department can better prioritize meeting these needs?
3. Each year, the Department writes budget justifications for Congress to explain the use and importance of funding for the Department. Those summaries for FY 2026 are: FY 2026 Department of Education Justifications of Appropriation Estimates to the Congress Given how the FY 2026 request describes programs with Tribal implications, are there changes that should be considered in the FY 2027 budget request?
4. The Department uses data to inform its budget and grantmaking decisions. What sources of information or data on the performance and needs of Native American students, teachers, and schools do you believe should inform budget development at the Department?
5. What suggestions do you have regarding how we can improve the Department’s presentation of budget information for programs with Tribal implications?

Tribal leaders may consult the following resources in preparation for the consultation session: 

• FY 2026 Budget Summary and Background Information
• FY 2026 Justifications of Appropriations Estimates to the Congress
• The President’s FY 2026 Budget for the United States Government

Registration and Written Comments

To participate, Tribal leaders must register individually through ZoomGov. Once registered, attendees will receive a unique access link. Written public comments may be submitted to [email protected] until October 23, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET. For additional information, questions may be directed to [email protected]. 

The OIE will host an additional consultation on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 on Presidential Executive Orders related to public education—learn more.