Navajo Nation BFC Approves Legislation 0032-26 Restoring $3,684,574 for Legislative Branch Operations

The Navajo Nation Budget and Finance Committee approved Legislation 0032-26 on Feb. 17, 2026, authorizing $3,684,574 from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance to restore operational funding for Legislative Branch programs in Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation, sponsored by BFC Chair Shaandiin Parrish, was announced in a 25th Navajo Nation Council press release posted Feb. 20, 2026.

Chair Shaandiin Parrish framed the vote as a necessary repair to basic operations, saying, “The absence of operational funding has significantly limited the Legislative Branch’s ability to carry out its duties, particularly for the Naabik’iyati’ Committee and the Navajo Nation Council,” and added, “The BFC remains committed to ensuring essential services continue and that the Legislative Branch is fully operational.”

The move follows a series of budget clashes after President Buu Nygren issued line-item vetoes on Resolutions CS-44-25, CS-45-25, and CN-56-25 that the Council says eliminated operating funds for Legislative Branch programs. The Feb. 20 press release described Legislation 0032-26 as “the fourth effort by the 25th Navajo Nation Council to restore funding for programs that have continued operating without appropriated funds since the initial line-item vetoes.” Earlier named efforts include Legislation No. 0219-25, approved by the 25th Council in a Sept. 26, 2025 special session that would restore $8.1 million to the Legislative Branch and funding for 28 employee positions if the President approved it.

The BFC’s restoration on Feb. 17 comes after related reallocations earlier this fiscal cycle. On Jan. 23, 2026 the BFC approved Legislation No. 0264-25 to reallocate OPVP personnel funds to 4 Corners K9 Search and Rescue, rental funding for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, and operational funds for the Office of the President and Vice President. Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty, sponsor of Legislation 0264-25 and chair of the Missing and Murdered Diné Relatives Task Force, said, “I want to thank the committee and the Council for their patience and support to ensure this funding goes to 4 Corners K9 Search and Rescue, who have been deployed to help our people, because any delay in services sends the message that our safety does not matter.” The Jan. 23 press release also notes that in October OPVP redirected $250,000 from 4CK9SAR to cover OPVP travel and operational expenses.

Budget staff and OMB materials provide wider fiscal context for FY2026, which runs Oct. 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026. An OMB exhibit dated April 7, 2025 recommended a projected recovery of indirect cost (IDC) funds of $24,000,000 for FY2026; the exhibit shows sample IDC allocations including Navajo Nation Council BU# 101001 at $1,297,232, Office of the Speaker BU# 101015 at $1,007,347, and Office of Legislative Counsel BU# 101017 at $625,689. The OMB exhibit cites an FY2022 actual IDC recovery of $23,893,707.92 and notes the FY2025 IDC rate 12.98 percent is pending approval.

Procedural details remain to be confirmed. Sources supplied no vote tally for the BFC’s Feb. 17 approval of Legislation 0032-26, and there is no public record in the provided materials of any presidential action on Legislation 0032-26 after the BFC vote. Reporters seeking clarification may contact the 25th Navajo Nation Council Office of the Speaker or OMB in Window Rock, Ariz.; OMB lists its address as P.O. Box 6461, Window Rock, AZ 86515, phone (928) 871-6570, and fax (928) 871-6567, and the Council media contact email appears as nnlb.communications@gmail.com in press materials.

The restoration of $3,684,574 is intended to enable Naabik’iyati’ Committee functions and Council operations to continue through FY26, following months of piecemeal reallocations and repeated attempts by the 25th Navajo Nation Council to secure appropriated funds for the Legislative Branch.