The U.S. Treasury Department announced Tuesday that tribes will begin to receive the first round of funding from the federal COVID-19 relief package.
The $4.8 billion is about 60 percent of the total funds earmarked for tribal assistance in the CARES Act, and comes weeks after the deadline set for the money to be disbursed.
“The Navajo Nation Council appreciates this first distribution to tribal governments of CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund support,” said Navajo Nation Council Speaker Seth Damon in a press release. “We, as Navajo leaders, have been listening to the needs of the Navajo People and our communities, and we will ensure that necessary funds are equitably and responsibly allocated within the time given to us.”
According to the Navajo Council, the tribe will receive $600 million in the fist round of CARES Act funding.
The remaining $3.2 billion in relief funds are in legal limbo as the Navajo Nation and several other tribes sue the Treasury over the inclusion of for-profit Alaska Native Corporations in the relief bill.
NOTE: This story has been updated to include how much funding the Navajo Nation will receive.
