Norton moves to patch up trust reform dispute

FROM THE ARCHIVE

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MONDAY, JUNE 4, 2002

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton expressed support for her top Indian trust official amid growing questions over his future in the Bush administration, according to sources familiar with a high-level meeting held late Friday.

Advance word of the private discussion spread quickly after Special Trustee Tom Slonaker early that afternoon spoke with a group of tribal leaders and other representatives who sit on his advisory panel. He and his staff felt dismissal was imminent, said one panel member.

"Let's go down fighting," the attendee said of the atmosphere.

But the subsequent meeting turned out relatively cordial, according to sources. Norton and Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles sought to dispel notions that the Bush administration wants to eliminate Slonaker's Senate-confirmed position.

They also attempted to reinforce their support for Slonaker's continued role in the reorganization of the department's Indian trust duties. Although a joint federal-tribal task force recommended a phaseout of the Office of the Special Trustee, the officials said they didn't endorse the concept.

"We're not trying to get rid of you," was the message received, according to one source familiar with the talk.

The meeting was held at Norton's request and comes as a court official looks into tensions affecting efforts to fix the broken Indian trust system. In a highly critical report released a month ago, trust fund monitor Joseph S. Kieffer III documented an escalating feud between Norton and Slonaker, a Clinton appointee.

Friday's discussion appeared to diffuse the situation. Although Norton rebuked Slonaker in two recent memos, questioned his performance and ordered a probe into his operations, there was no indication of a shakeup in leadership any time soon.

But those close to the highly charged situation said the true test of Norton's intentions will play out over time. "Let's see if their actions follow their words," said one source.

And still others, citing the past casualties of trust reform including the first special trustee, Paul Homan, who quit the Clinton administration in a huff over funding and support, questioned whether any dispute can be adequately resolved. "He saw the writing on the wall," said a tribal leader.

Slonaker's spats with Norton and her aides have been discussed a length in court and news reports. His refusal last fall to sign a court-mandated trust reform update continued to puzzle Norton months later.

More recently, he declined to provide a sworn court declaration in response to a report which faulted the department's records-management policies. His obstinance drew criticism from Norton.

Slonaker, a former bank official, was appointed in February 2000 by President Bill Clinton. He was confirmed by the Senate in June 200 and remains the only high-level political appointee retained by the Bush administration.