Court affirms McCabe as Navajo Nation controller, limits Nygren’s authority
DÁ’DEESTŁ’IN HÓTSAA
A Navajo Nation District Court judge has ruled that Sean McCabe remains the Navajo Nation controller and barred the Office of Management and the Budget and Office of the Controller from taking actions through an interim controller.
Judge Malcolm Begay signed the order Aug. 5, resolving a dispute over whether President Buu Nygren had the authority to accept McCabe’s resignation and later remove him after the Navajo Nation Council had confirmed McCabe as controller.
McCabe was appointed interim controller April 17, 2023, and the Council confirmed him as controller Jan. 24, 2024. He submitted a resignation to Nygren July 11, 2025, citing what the court described as a “toxic” work environment and including provisions that could delay the resignation if the parties agreed that he would remain employed.
McCabe rescinded the resignation the next day after speaking with Speaker Crystalyne Curley, according to Begay’s order. Nygren had accepted the resignation and appointed Robert Willie as interim controller. McCabe was later reappointed as interim controller and remained in the position until Nygren terminated him Oct. 7, 2025, as Nygren moved to appoint Alva Tom as interim controller.
To read the full article, please see the Aug. 13, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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