Staff Reports
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The 25th Navajo Nation Council approved Legislation 0032-26, a measure to restore essential funding to the Legislative Branch after the disruptive impacts of recent line-item vetoes from President Buu Nygren, on April 21.
The legislation, as amended, allocates $3.3 million from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance to ensure the continued operation of key legislative programs for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026.
he Judicial and Executive branches received their full planning base amount for FY2026, but the Legislative branch had its planning base amount line-item vetoed by Nygren, which left the branch unable to fully operate.
Council Delegate Shaandiin Parrish emphasized the importance of restoring only what is necessary to stabilize operations and maintain fiscal discipline.
“This legislation is about restoring the base budget that was removed through the line-item veto so the Legislative Branch can function as intended,” said Delegate Parrish. “We worked closely to ensure the final amount reflects only what is needed to return to our planning base. By separating supplemental requests from base restoration, we are strengthening accountability and making sure every dollar is justified.”
The line-item vetoes eliminated or reduced funding for operational money and other core functions that support legislative work. These reductions forced staff and delegates to cover essential expenses out of pocket, limited the ability to conduct oversight and public outreach, and disrupted day-to-day operations, including legislative drafting and legal support.
The Office of Legislative Counsel is a critical office within the legislative branch that provides legal guidance and drafts legislation. Without sufficient funds, the OLC’s ability to develop laws and provide timely legal review was hindered by the line-item veto.
Another affected area was the Council’s ability to meet with federal and state partners to advocate for support and resources for the Navajo Nation. This included the ability to meet with local community members to provide adequate updates to inform the community of changes and challenges within the Navajo Nation government.
Legislation 0032-26 directly addressed these challenges by restoring funding to essential programs and ensuring that the Legislative Branch can resume full operations throughout FY2026.
An amendment introduced by Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty reduced the original request of $3.6 million to $3.3 million, which aligned the appropriation with actual operational needs and reinforced the Council’s commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Speaker Crystalyne Curley emphasized the broader importance of the legislation, noting its impact on both operations and personnel.
“This legislation ensures that the Legislative Branch can continue to serve the Navajo people effectively by restoring the resources our staff and programs depend on,” Curley said. “It supports not only the operational capacity of the Council but also the employees who carry out this work every day, ensuring stability and continuity across the branch.”
The legislation reflects a broader effort to ensure that all branches of government operate from a consistent and sustainable financial foundation before consideration for additional funding requests.
The 25th Navajo Nation Council unanimously approved Legislation No. 0032-26 with a vote of 21 in favor and none opposed. Once certified and delivered to the Office of the President and Vice President, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren will have up to 10 calendar days to act on the resolution
