Spending Bill Holds Up American Indian Funds

An accounting of money owed to hundreds of thousands of American Indians was put on hold while an appeals court considers whether recent action by Congress could overturn a federal judge’s order.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued the stay so attorneys for the government and American Indians suing the Interior Department could file briefs on the effect of the congressional action.

In September, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the Interior Department to conduct a thorough investigation into money that was supposed to be paid to Indians for oil, gas, timber and grazing activities on their land for more than a century.

But Congress, at the urging of the White House, added language to an Interior Department spending bill that prevented an accounting from going forward until Congress defines the scope and methods to be used.