The Obama administration has done little to reform the federal recognition process, a Bureau of Indian Affairs representative acknowledged last week.

But don't expect major changes any time soon. Brian Newland, a senior policy advisor at the agency, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that a promise made nearly three years ago to issue new regulations wasn't kept.

"We didn't get that done. There's no sugar coating that," Newland testified last Thursday.

At a November 2009 hearing, the BIA said it would propose new federal recognition regulations within a year. Although the agency has subsequently consulted tribes and held meetings on the issue, Newland wouldn't commit to a revised timeline.

"I can't -- especially in light of our previous testimony -- come up here and honestly answer that these reforms are going to be finished" before the end of the 112th Congress, Newland told the committee.

Since President Barack Obama took office, the BIA has recognized one tribe -- the Shinnecock Nation of New York. The agency also issued five final decisions against recognizing certain groups.

Committee Notice:
OVERSIGHT HEARING on Federal Recognition: Political and Legal Relationship between Governments (July 12, 2012)

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