Nygren vetoes $22.8 million, forcing layoffs, cuts to programs

WINDOW ROCK

Delegate Vince James called President Buu Nygren’s decision to strike more than $22 million from the Navajo Nation’s new budget “a political tactic” that will force layoffs and disrupt key programs.

“At this point, it’s more of a Buu Nygren political tactic,” said James, the chair of the Health, Education and Human Services Committee. “His message has always been to not have layoffs. But he contradicted his own message to the Navajo people by indicating that he’s not going to have anybody lose a job. But in this case, that’s what we’re going to have to do on our end with the Legislative Branch.”

The Navajo Nation Council approved a $624 million budget for fiscal 2026 earlier this month, but Nygren vetoed $22.8 million in line items on Sept. 16, including $8.8 million from the Legislative Branch and $15.7 million from the Executive Branch.

The vetoes eliminated funding for the Legislative District Assistants, the staff who connect chapters to their Council delegates, along with stipends, travel, supplies, and contractual services across all five standing committees. In total, Nygren’s vetoes removed 28 full-time jobs in the Legislative Branch while approving full funding for at least 40 staff positions in the Office of the President and Vice President totaling more than $5 million.

Despite the Council’s efforts to protect jobs and raise salaries for regular employees, James said Legislative staff will now face layoffs.

“There are individuals that have been affected about the outcome,” he said. “They all have families, they all have kids, some tend to their elderly parents and some of them are going through their education. But it’s part of his political stunt that he’s doing.”

Formal layoff notices for the 28 Legislative employees are expected this week.

Programs stripped of funding

Nygren also vetoed the entire budget of the Navajo Nation Youth Council, cutting more than $289,000, including funding for personnel.

“These appropriations lacked clear accountability and risked duplicating funding already available through existing base budgets,” Nygren wrote in his veto message. “We must ensure that appropriations are tied to specific, measurable outcomes and avoid discretionary pools that undermine fiscal discipline.”

The largest cut came from the Executive Branch, where Nygren vetoed $14.7 million for the Controller’s Office Homeownership Program, which had been championed by the Council as a way to help Navajo families buy homes.

“I cannot support funding initiatives without adequate safeguards or clear plans for implementation,” Nygren stated. “We must prioritize core services and ensure that every dollar is spent with accountability to the Navajo people.”

Delegate Carl Slater, the vice chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, who sponsored the program, said the veto denies families a chance at owning a home.

“He killed the homeownership program I fought for, and the Council supported, a program designed to help our people finally get keys in hand to their own homes,” Slater said.

Growing office budget

While cutting Legislative operations and housing, Nygren’s own office budget has continued to grow. According to Council budget data, the OPVP received $3.2 million in fiscal 2023, $4.1 million in fiscal 2024, $4.9 million in fiscal 2025, and requested $6.9 million for fiscal 2026 – a 68 percent increase since Nygren took office.

On Aug. 18, Nygren sent a letter requesting the $6.9 million appropriation for OPVP, nearly three times the budget amounts of past presidents. Council members said that while OPVP asked for more funding, other Executive Branch divisions were forced to cover the cost of Nygren promotional items, money that should have gone to Navajo families.

To address those concerns, the Council reduced Nygren’s office request and redirected funds into services, including a $2.2 million restoration for the Nation’s 110 chapters.

Slater said the vetoes were not about tightening spending.

“Because our committee has been digging into his administration’s mismanagement,” he said. “Because he doesn’t want oversight, accountability, or anyone asking tough questions about how money is being spent. This isn’t fiscal discipline. This is retaliation.”

James said Nygren refused to meet with Council committees during the budget process.

“We had several budget meetings, multiple meetings, and he never attended, he never came forward,” James said. “There’s nothing in place by him that he does not want to work with Council. He wants to run the Nation on his own. He wants to be the king. I guess that’s what he wants to be.”

Clash over power, accountability

Slater added that with the line-item vetoes, Nygren essentially eliminated “the very branch of government that checks your power.”

“You are dismantling the balance of power our people deserve,” he said.

Because the line-item veto power was approved by Navajo voters in 2009, the Council cannot override Nygren’s actions. James said only chapter governments could attempt an override by passing resolutions, but most chapters have already held their September meetings.

“This would probably be a good prime time to drop legislation and do a referendum to do away with the line-item veto,” James said. “Let the people vote on it again, see what happens.”

For now, the cuts mean layoffs for legislative staff and the loss of funding for the homeownership and youth council programs. Council members warn the vetoes could harm Navajo families and weaken government oversight.

James urged employees to continue their work despite the uncertainty.

“We’ve done our best to make sure that all positions filled by Navajo employees were funded,” he said. “But there was no thorough thought in these vetoes. It was just more of a push of, ‘I’m tired of the 25th Navajo Nation Council, so this is what I’m going to do.’”

Slater said the people deserve more from their leaders.

“The Navajo people deserve homes, they deserve transparency, and they deserve leaders who welcome accountability,” he said. “Not leaders who veto it.”

Get instant access to this story by purchasing one of our many e-edition subscriptions HERE at our Navajo Times Store.

 

---