The U.S. Civil Rights Commission will close its Denver, Colorado, office in October amid a budget crisis.

The Denver office oversees 60 reservations in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. It has been responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination by Native Americans, particularly those in South Dakota, and it helped draft two key reports on federal funding for Indian programs and the Indian Health Service.

The closure of the Denver office and another in Kansas City will save more than $135,000, according to a staff member. The commission's budget is $9 million, $3 million less than its budget during the Reagan administration.

Get the Story:
Civil Rights Agency Closings, Cuts Decried (The Washington Post 5/26)
pwpwd

Indian Country Reports:
Broken Promises: Evaluating the Native American Health Care System (July 2004) | A Quiet Crisis: Federal Funding and Unmet Needs in Indian Country (July 2003)

Relevant Links:
United States Commission on Civil Rights - http://www.usccr.gov

Related Stories:
Editorial: Don't close Civil Rights offices (05/09)
Civil Rights office for 60 reservations to close (5/3)
Editorial: Civil Rights upheaval hurts Indian Country (04/25)
Lakota woman's term on civil rights panel ends (04/15)
Another resignation at troubled Civil Rights Commission (03/16)
Civil rights pick opposes affirmative action (12/10)
Civil Rights Commission now leans conservative (12/9)
Top two on Civil Rights Commission resign (12/8)
Bush appoints new head of Civil Rights Commission (12/7)
Report calls on U.S. to honor health care commitment (08/30)
Editorial: U.S. failing to provide Indian health care (08/30)
Navajos turn out for civil rights commission hearing (05/03)
Civil rights panel to hold hearing in Farmington (04/29)
Report documents unmet needs in Indian Country (7/23)