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Lumbee Federal Recognition Folded Into NDAA as House Vote Nears

A coming vote on the must-pass defense bill could put the tribe’s long-sought status within reach.

FILE - Members of the Lumbee Tribe bow their heads in prayer during the BraveNation Powwow and Gather at UNC Pembroke, March 22, 2025, in Pembroke, N.C. (AP Photo/Allison Joyce, file)
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Overview

  • The recognition language is included in the 2026 defense authorization text released Sunday after weeks of negotiations involving the White House, the House, and the Senate.
  • House leaders may bring the 3,000-plus-page, roughly $900 billion package to a vote this week, with Senate consideration expected later this month.
  • Rep. David Rouzer authored the provision with bipartisan North Carolina co-sponsors, and Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump have previously backed Lumbee recognition efforts.
  • The Eastern Band of Cherokee objects to using the defense bill and urges the Bureau of Indian Affairs process, arguing the Lumbee have not met federal standards for recognition.
  • Passage would make the tribe eligible for federal programs in areas such as health care and education and could enable casino development in southeastern North Carolina, with potential along the I-95 corridor.