EPA Administrator Zeldin Reaffirms EPA’s Indian Policy
DALLAS, TEXAS (July 18, 2025) – This week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Zeldin reaffirmed the EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations (Indian Policy).
“EPA is committed to working government to government with federally recognized Tribes,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “Our engagement with Tribes is central to achieving EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment and Powering the Great American Comeback.”
“Here in Region 6, where we have 66 federally recognized Tribal Nations, this policy guides our work and strengthens our decades-long relationships with our nation’s original environmental stewards,” said Regional Administrator Scott Mason. “As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I know how important it is for EPA to partner with Tribal Nations to strengthen both environmental protection and economic prosperity for Tribal communities.”
“The EPA’s unique federal trust relationship with Tribal governments is foundational to our shared efforts to ensure clean air, land, and water for all Americans,” said NTC Executive Committee Chair Tabitha Langston. “Administrator Zeldin’s reaffirmation today underscores EPA’s enduring commitment to the principles set forth in the Indian Policy.”
EPA was one of the first federal agencies with a formal policy specifying how it would interact with Tribal governments and to consider Tribal interests in carrying out its mission. The Indian Policy contains nine fundamental principles to guide EPA’s work with Tribes, including consultation and recognizing Tribes as the appropriate entities to set standards, make environmental policy decisions, and manage programs for reservations. The Indian Policy has been reaffirmed by EPA Administrators since it was established in 1984, and it remains the cornerstone of EPA’s Tribal program today.
For more information about the EPA’s relationship and work with Tribal governments, visit our webpage.
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