Most of the increase in the Department of Interior's new budget is going to fund trust reform while money for other Indian programs is being cut, the Associated Press reports.

The Bush administration is seeking $11 billion for the department, an increase of $250 million over current levels. Of this amount, $158 million, or 63 percent, will fund various trust reform projects, including historical accounting activities for tribes and individual Indians.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Affairs will be cut by about $100 million, according to the AP's calculations. The construction account for elementary and secondary schools is being cut by $66 million, tribal colleges are being cut by $5 million, an 11 percent decrease, and funding is being eliminated for a community development project.

For the past two years, tribal leaders have criticized the the impact of trust reform on the budget. But some Bush administration officials have denied Indian programs are being sacrificed.

Get the Story:
Trust programs see big hike in budget, other programs scaled back (AP 2/7)

Relevant Documents:
Fiscal Year 2005 Budget in Brief | Unified Trust Budget | Serving Tribal Communities | BIA Highlights | Departmental Offices [for Office of Special Trustee]

Related Stories:
Ariz. tribe to receive land consolidation funds (2/6)
Bush cuts funds, again, for N.D. tribal college (2/4)
BIA budget staying the same under Bush request (2/3)
NCAI president uses speech to lobby for funding (01/22)
Effects of trust budget on Indian programs debated (05/28)
Swimmer: Tex Hall's testimony 'was not true' (05/23)
Congress hacks Bush's accounting funds (7/16)
Tribes oppose OST expansion into Indian County (5/22)