Opinion. Within the federal bureaucracy, Indian Country works with numerous departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Approximately two dozen federal agencies have direct influence on Indian Country on an ongoing basis.
As the new administration’s transition team announces nominees for President-elect Donald Trump, it is critical to examine the nominees because of the enormous authority they have in leading federal departments.
Several Cabinet secretaries nominees have expressed concerns, including Matt Gaetz and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Matt Gaetz
Matt Gaetz, initially nominated by Trump as attorney general, has already withdrawn his name from the lawsuit — a development seen by many as good news for the country. His appointment was announced on November 13, 204, but he withdrew eight days later.
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Given the critical role of the Department of Justice in Indian Country, I have closely followed Gaetz’s appointment and withdrawal. From the beginning, I found his selection by President-elect Trump absurd as I have followed the allegations of his inappropriate sexual relations with an underage woman, which are under investigation.
Media reports suggested that Gaetz, a staunch Trump loyalist, would prioritize retaliation against Trump’s perceived opponents. However, my concerns went beyond potential partisan retaliation. The Department of Justice has significant responsibilities in addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) crisis. Native Americans – both women and men – are going missing in epidemic numbers, often as a result of human trafficking.
Gaetz’s alleged history of misconduct, including allegations of paying minors for sex and providing drugs, made him an unsuitable candidate to address human trafficking and other serious issues affecting indigenous communities.
The continued media coverage of Gaetz’s controversies was instrumental in holding him accountable. On January 20, 2025, when Republicans control the presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court, the media’s watchdog role has become even more important in maintaining Democratic guardrails.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump’s choice of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has alarmed many. HHS, which oversees the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Administration for Native Americans (ANA), has more than 80,000 employees and a projected budget of $1.7 trillion for 2025.
RFK Jr.’s lack of healthcare background and management experience. raises great concerns. His controversial stance against vaccines, which is not supported by medical science, has made his appointment particularly troubling.
Experts have highlighted the life-saving impact of vaccines, with research published in The Lancet It is estimated that vaccines have saved 154 million lives over the past half century – an average of six lives per minute. RFK Jr.’s unsubstantiated claims over vaccines undermine public health efforts.
Furthermore, Kennedy’s opposition to fluoride in drinking water, based on questionable claims about its effects on children’s IQ, contradicts established scientific evidence. Although most approvals for water fluoridaton are made at the state and local level, his claim is still troubling due to the lack of scientific support.
Doug Burgum
Among the nominees, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s choice to replace outgoing Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo), appears to be a more balanced selection. Burgum, who has governed North Dakota since 2016, has proven to be a capable leader.
The Department of the Interior is critical to Indian Country, housing agencies such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Office of Special Trustee, and Bureau of Land Management.
Trump’s campaign rhetoric often emphasized economic solutions through higher tariffs and domestic oil production, epitomized by the slogan “Drill, baby, drill.” Burgum is expected to implement this agenda as Minister of the Interior.
In the previous Trump administration, officials told tribal leaders that 20% of untapped U.S. energy reserves are on tribal lands. If confirmed, Burgum’s approach to tribal energy resources must be carefully monitored to prevent exploitation and negative health impacts, such as those caused by uranium mining on Navajo lands, which led to an increase in cancer rates.
Contrary to Trump’s claims, domestic oil production under the Biden-Harris administration has exceeded that of the first Trump administration, undermining criticism of the current administration’s energy policies.
Conclusion
I am relieved that Gaetz is no longer eligible to be appointed Attorney General. RFK Jr. however, remains an alarming choice for HHS due to its lack of qualifications and promotion of harmful misinformation.
As for Burgum, I hope he understands the importance of protecting sacred tribal lands and maintaining the enhanced tribal consultations established under the Biden-Harris administration. The Secretary of the Interior must balance energy exploration and development with preserving the cultural and environmental integrity of Indian Country.
Thayék gde nwéndëmen – We are all related.
About the Author: “Levi \”Calm Before the Storm\” Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded the Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print category\/ online by the Native American Journalists Association. He is a member of the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net.
Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
