Tribal Self-Governance Gets $1 Billion Federal Commitment — IHS Staffing Expands Across Indian Country

Federal investment in Native health infrastructure just hit a historic milestone.

RFK Jr. Delivers Keynote to 1,500 Native Leaders in Chandler, Arizona

On April 8, 2026, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. delivered the keynote at the 2026 Tribal Self-Governance Conference in Chandler, Arizona. More than 1,500 Native American leaders attended from tribal nations across the country. There, Secretary Kennedy announced a $1 billion investment to eliminate the Indian Health Service’s 30-year infrastructure backlog. He also pledged to expand IHS staffing and incorporate traditional Indigenous foods into federal dietary policy. Additionally, the Administration committed to accelerating IHS facility transfers to tribal management under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Per HHS, Kennedy stated plainly: “Tribal nations know how to care for their people.”

P.L. 638 Transfers Represent the Largest Program Transfer in Federal Government History

Secretary Kennedy called the Section 638 compact transitions the single largest program transfer in U.S. government history. Anthony Hillaire, Chairman of the Lummi Nation, captured the weight of that responsibility: “We have responsibility to our people, a responsibility to our home.” Meanwhile, Tyson Johnston, Councilmember of the Quinault Nation, expressed gratitude for an HHS Secretary willing to show up in person. Johnston credited Kennedy for “taking the time to go into the field and meet with our people on the ground.” He added that this level of engagement has not been seen since the opening of the self-governance era. Furthermore, HHS announced $135 million in new HRSA funding for 350 health centers. The agency also awarded 15 rural residency grants covering psychiatry, family medicine, and OB-GYN.

Native Practitioners and IHS Facilities Need Qualified Clinical Staffing Now

Infrastructure investment without qualified clinical personnel leaves communities underserved. As a result, ISBEE-certified, 100% Native-owned staffing partners are now essential to filling the clinical workforce gap. This is especially true across IHS facilities, tribal health programs, and rural Indian Country hospitals!

Therefore, Ellsworth stands ready to place credentialed, culturally competent clinicians — physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals — where Our Relatives need them most. Contact Ellsworth (info@ellsworth.solutions) today to build a staffing solution aligned with your tribe’s sovereignty and your community’s health goals.