Federal Energy and Infrastructure Projects Impacting Indigenous Sacred Sites

under review and impacted by policy changes

Federal agencies are accelerating the development of fossil fuel projects, mines, pipelines, and other energy-related infrastructure across multiple states, impacting Indigenous sacred sites. Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) are responsible for reviewing these projects to protect cultural and historic resources, but their review period has been drastically shortened from 30 days to 7 days under a national energy emergency declared by President Trump. Additionally, the THPO program faces severe budget cuts and delayed funding, threatening the ability of tribes to effectively oversee and mitigate impacts on sacred sites.