OPINION: Native workforce programs are under attack — we must act now

Right now, a dangerous proposal is sitting in Washington that could take away one of the most important tools Native communities have to build a better future: direct access to job training and employment programs.

The federal budget proposal for 2026 would eliminate the Native American Employment and Training Program. This program helps Native people get jobs, earn diplomas, gain skills and support their families. If passed, it would force tribes and Native nonprofits like ours to rely on state governments to access these funds. That means fewer opportunities, and more barriers for our people.

At the Native Professional Advancement Center, also known as the National Indian Youth Council, we’ve been doing this work for over 60 years. We were one of the first national Native-led organizations in the country. We helped lead the fight for self-determination and civil rights. Today, we carry that same spirit forward by helping Native people find jobs, go back to school and change their lives.

We work with Native job seekers in Albuquerque, Gallup and Farmington. Many are young people trying to find their path. Some are elders starting over. Others are parents who want to give their children a better future. Through our programs, they get training, job placement and support like childcare and transportation. These services aren’t extra — they’re essential. And they only work because they are run by Native people, for Native people.

Many of the people we work with face significant barriers — poverty, limited transportation, housing instability or a lack of nearby job opportunities. Our programs exist to remove those barriers. They don’t just provide services — they create a pathway forward. When a young person earns their first paycheck or a single parent completes a training program that leads to full-time employment, that is transformation. That is hope.

This proposed cut would take all of that away. It would mean we’d have to go through the state to get resources we once had direct access to. And history tells us what happens when Native people are pushed to the side of decision-making — we get left behind.

Let’s be clear: This isn’t about saving money. It’s about cutting off Native communities from programs that actually work. It’s about removing power from tribal communities and giving it to state systems that have often ignored or failed us.

If this budget passes as written, thousands of Native families could lose access to education and job training. Nonprofits like NPAC could be forced to close doors or scale back life-changing services. That’s not just harmful. It’s unacceptable.

At NPAC, we believe in self-determination. We believe Native communities know best how to serve our own people. That’s why programs like Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Section 166 are so important. They aren’t handouts — they’re investments in sovereignty, dignity and opportunity.

The House Labor and Education Subcommittee will begin marking up this portion of the budget on July 24. Now is the time to act. We urge the public to contact their representatives — send a letter, make a call, write an email. Every voice matters in this fight to protect Native access to jobs, education and a stronger future.