Why It Matters
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing on housing needs in Native communities and S.5354 for September 16. The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) program authority lapsed in 2013, and the hearing will consider S.5354, legislation to modernize and reauthorize federal housing programs serving these communities for the first time since authority expired.
President Trump's fiscal 2026 budget request would have slashed $477 million from Native housing programs, underscoring the fragility of federal support. Meanwhile, bipartisan sponsors of the modernization bill—Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Brian Schatz (D-HI)—have framed the reauthorization as essential infrastructure to address longstanding housing shortfalls among Native communities.
The Big Picture
NAHASDA authority expired in 2013, and the modernization bill represents the first legislative attempt to restore that authority. The Senate measure mirrors companion legislation in the House—H.R. 8092, the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Modernization Act of 2026, also introduced this Congress.
The Bottom Line
The hearing will signal the direction in which funding for Native communities is heading under this presidential administration.
---
Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article