Recent Executive Orders threaten American Indian/Alaska Native health

The School of Nursing has emphasized service to educating doctorally prepared American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) professionals to serve, empower and lead the health of their communities and nations. Recent actions through U.S. Executive Orders, like No. 13950, strike at the heart of AI/AN health care access. Chronic provider shortages already undermine care delivery. Since 2005, Nursing Workforce Diversity (NWD) grants have provided tuition support, mentorship and culturally relevant training to diversify the nursing workforce. Documented outcomes include higher retention and graduation rates, expanded pathways into BSN, MSN, and DNP/PhD programs, and stronger preparation of nurses to serve underserved communities. The elimination of programs like Health Resources and Services Administration’s NWD grant program worsens this crisis.

AI/AN nurses comprise less than 1% of the RN workforce, though AI/AN people represent 2% of the U.S. population. NWD grants have been a lifeline for Tribal-serving schools and universities, including the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. With NWD support, we have minimized out-of-pocket tuition, offered mentorship and academic coaching, and built pathways to doctoral education. Many Indigenous nurses supported through NWD remain in Tribal and urban Indian communities, where they serve as trusted providers and leaders who directly improve health outcomes.

AI/AN communities are accustomed to underfunding. The Indian Health Service, for example, has never had a budget sufficient to meet treaty-based health care obligations. While some executive orders have been revived and expanded, these directives have accelerated rollbacks in training, hiring, and grant priorities. Now, Tribal colleges and universities risk losing federal support, widening education and workforce gaps.

The U.S. Executive Orders do not affect AI/AN communities in isolation — they reverberate across health care access, workforce capacity, sovereignty, and environmental justice. By dismantling equity frameworks and long-standing treaty supports, these actions threaten AI/AN wellbeing and the health of all, for generations to come.