As the federal government shutdown continues, we want to reassure every member that the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska is prepared and actively monitoring the situation. Our utmost priority is to protect our programs, employees, and the vital services our community relies on each day.
At this time, no Tribal services have been impacted. We are continuing to provide all essential services without interruption. Leadership remains in close communication with our federal, state partners, and lobbyists to stay fully informed and respond quickly to any developments.
Fortunately, the Indian Health Service (IHS) received advance appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026. This means the majority of IHS-funded programs will remain operational throughout this lapse in federal funding. Additionally, our Finance Department confirms that funding drawdowns were performed as usual. While we may see delays in new or continuing federal awards, our current programs remain stable.
Help Us Better Serve You
To ensure we’re addressing Ponca member needs effectively during these uncertain times, we ask you to fill out a brief questionnaire. Your feedback is crucial for helping us better understand any potential disruptions you may be experiencing. You can find the questions here: https://poncatribeofne.formstack.com/forms/federal_shutdown_impact and on the official Tribal website and social media pages.
Stay in Touch
Please know that your leadership team is staying on top of this situation on a day-to-day basis. We will continue to keep you informed as we navigate this together.
If you or your family are experiencing any direct disruption or hardship due to the federal government shutdown, please immediately contact the Tribe via our dedicated emergency email address: membersemergencies@poncatribe-ne.gov.
We are here for you.