It is deeply troubling to see Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visit Native communities and speak about his commitment to fighting chronic disease — while backing an administration that just dismantled the very program designed to do that work.

The Healthy Tribes initiative has been a lifeline for tribal nations tackling disproportionately high rates of diabetes, liver disease, and other chronic conditions. By supporting traditional medicine, community health, and culturally grounded prevention strategies, the program has empowered Native communities to care for their people in ways that work.

Now, it’s being gutted. Stripped of funding, stripped of staff, and stripped of its future.

This isn't just bad policy, it’s a betrayal. The federal government has a legal and moral obligation to honor its trust responsibilities to tribal nations, including the provision of adequate health care. These cuts are not just bureaucratic reshuffling; they’re violations of trust that put lives at risk.

How can Secretary Kennedy support this administration's decisions and claim to champion Indigenous health while $32.5 million is cut from a program rooted in collaboration, tradition, and proven results?

These are not “diversity initiatives” to be tossed aside. These are vital services grounded in treaty obligations. And no amount of speeches or photo ops can mask the damage being done on the ground.

If this government truly believes in health equity and tribal sovereignty, it must put action behind its words. Restore funding to Healthy Tribes. Restore the staff, the partnerships, and the future of Indigenous public health.

Photo: AP/Ross D. Franklin