Council to Nygren: fulfill your duties

WINDOW ROCK

Members of the Navajo Nation Council issued a statement Tuesday urging President Buu Nygren to fulfill his responsibilities and respond to what they describe as growing concerns over inaction, legal noncompliance, and delayed infrastructure progress under his administration.

According to a statement from the speaker’s office, Council delegates have received a sustained wave of complaints from constituents regarding the Nygren Administration’s failure to meet community needs in areas such as veterans services, American Rescue Plan Act project implementation, road development, and basic public services.

“Council delegates are out in the communities, and we receive an alarming amount of complaints, calls for action, and demands for accountability directed at President Nygren, who is consistently absent from meaningful community meetings aside from photo-op events,” Speaker Crystalyne Curley said in Tuesday’s statement. “I have reached out to the president personally on several occasions with no response from him.”

Curley said that she and other lawmakers view this moment as a critical juncture requiring decisive executive leadership, especially on projects tied to local and federal funding. She added that public frustrations have increased in recent months as projects remain stalled and communication from the president’s office has declined.

Veterans’ march cited 

The Council’s statement followed a June 18 meeting of the Health, Education, and Human Services Committee, which hosted a group of Navajo veterans who marched to the president’s office to raise concerns about unmet commitments and ongoing delays in veterans’ housing, services, and funding distribution.

Nygren did not meet with the group. No representative from the Executive Branch appeared to formally receive them during their visit to the president’s office on Friday, June 14.

On June 17, Nygren issued a public letter that attributed delays in road construction, aging infrastructure, and lack of essential services to the Legislative Branch.

“Many Navajo communities suffer from crumbling roads, aging infrastructure, and a lack of basic services like electricity and clean water,” Nygren wrote. “These are problems that your Council has had direct control over for decades.”

He also stated that Council members were responsible for holding up confirmations of several appointed division directors, a situation he said has slowed agency operations.

Curley disputed that claim, stating that the president had failed to comply with the confirmation process as defined in Navajo law. According to Title II of the Navajo Nation Code, appointments made by the president must be presented to the Council for confirmation at the next regular session following the appointment.

“Despite this legal mandate, President Nygren has yet to fully comply with the process required to confirm his appointed directors within vital divisions that are tasked with providing direct services to the Navajo people,” Curley said.

The statement added that some of Nygren’s appointees have served in “acting” capacities for extended periods, including multiple years in some cases. Curley said this has contributed to confusion within the administration and has slowed service delivery and policy execution across departments.

“Many of my Council colleagues agree that this delay caused by President Nygren has disrupted the proper functioning of Navajo government services, slowed policy implementation, and contributed to confusion and inefficiencies within key areas of the Nygren administration, including healthcare, education, economic development, and public safety,” Curley said.

Dispute over project delays

Nygren’s June 17 letter further accused Council members of “political theater” and claimed that his office is being obstructed by lawmakers who are not advancing funding or projects efficiently.

In response, the Council’s statement outlined multiple pieces of legislation passed by lawmakers since 2023, including bills allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to the Executive Branch for infrastructure, housing, waterlines, electricity projects, and renovations to senior centers.

Curley also cited resolutions adopted by the Council establishing formal policy positions on federal obligations, treaty enforcement, and student protections.

“The Council has gone above and beyond to deliver legislation that provides funding, more than adequate staffing, and additional resources for President Nygren and the Executive Branch to fulfill and complete projects and to improve direct services for the Navajo people,” Curley said. “Yet, Council delegates often find themselves serving as project managers, liaisons, and fulfilling duties that President Nygren and his team are responsible for.”

In a separate letter dated May 16 and addressed to the Council, Nygren reported that the president’s office currently employs 42 staff members – more than any previous Navajo Nation president.

Despite the expansion, Council delegates say they are increasingly being forced to act on behalf of the Executive Branch to meet constituent needs.

Public response and next steps 

The Council’s statement also criticized the president for responding to legislative oversight through public press releases instead of direct communication.

“These issues should be addressed in person among leadership before issuing public statements and deflecting blame,” Curley said.

She added that the president has declined multiple invitations to meet with lawmakers to discuss solutions and timelines for project completion. According to the speaker’s office, Curley issued a letter Tuesday requesting an immediate in-person meeting between the president, vice president, and Council leadership.

“As the speaker of the Council, I will not tolerate the disrespect that President Nygren is displaying toward our Nation’s leaders and his lack of action to address the needs of our Navajo people,” Curley said. “We stand ready to meet with President Nygren and Vice President Montoya to receive their solutions and discuss a path forward.”

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