Native News Online
The Indian Health Service (IHS) announced on Tuesday it will allocate $700 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support drinking water and sanitation projects across Indian Country, marking a major step in addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps in Tribal communities.
The funding comes through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provides a total of $3.5 billion to IHS between fiscal years 2022 and 2026 to build and upgrade critical Tribal water infrastructure. Projects include improvements to drinking water systems, wastewater treatment, and solid waste disposal facilities.
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“Clean drinking water and sanitation are fundamental public health priorities, and too many communities across Indian Country still lack these basic services,” said Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. “Through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, we are delivering projects that expand access and improve conditions, and we will continue prioritizing Tribal health as a central part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again.”
According to IHS, the investments are already making a measurable impact. In the first four years of funding under the law, the agency has supported more than 700 construction projects across its service areas.
“In the first four years of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, the Indian Health Service funded over 700 construction projects across all IHS areas,” said Clayton Fulton. “Overall, the IIJA funding will ultimately benefit more than 109,000 American Indian and Alaska Native households. IHS is committed to this critical work to ensure our relatives enjoy the same water and sanitation services that many others take for granted.”
The fiscal year 2026 allocations were shaped by recommendations from Tribal leaders, with priority given to projects that have completed planning and are ready to move directly into design and construction.
As the funding enters its fifth and final year, IHS officials said the agency will continue coordinating with federal and Tribal partners to expand access to essential services. These partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Reclamation.
Much of the work is carried out through the IHS Sanitation Facilities Construction Program, which provides environmental engineering services and supports the development of water supply, sewage disposal, and solid waste systems in Tribal communities. The program also offers technical and financial assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native communities for the cooperative construction of these essential systems.
Officials say the continued investment underscores a broader effort to ensure Tribal communities have access to the same basic infrastructure and public health protections as other communities across the United States.
Levi "Calm Before the Storm" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print/online… More by Levi Rickert
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