Virus Relief Funds Slow to Reach Tribes Hit Hard by Pandemic

An administrative bottleneck is slowing the stream of funds aimed at helping American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tribes are struggling to use the competitive grants process due to the administrative burden of writing an application, Indian Health Service Director Michael Weahkee said Thursday during a hearing of the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies subcommittee. The funds for most agencies are distributed through a grants process.

American Indian and Alaska Native tribes have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. About 13,800 patients in tribal communities have tested positive for Covid-19, with ...