This week, House Committee on Natural Resource Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and House Committee on Natural Resources Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) led a letter to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on issues related to investigations into the alleged misconduct at Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU). In part, the members wrote:

"Assistant Secretary Newland’s testimony notes that the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) responded to allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior at HINU in late fall and early winter of 2021 by referring the allegations to USPS [National EEO Investigative Services Office] NEEOISO. However, the DOI OIG has been investigating similar allegations since 2018, and continues to look into this matter at present.  A year later, similar complaints were referred to local law enforcement, as well as a BIE HR Officer, which were in turn referred to the DOI OIG. 

"The Committee would like to determine the scope of investigations currently being outsourced to NEEOISO by DOI, the process under which the DOI refers investigations to NEEOISO, and any protocols or guidance that may establish how an investigation is referred within DOI. In addition, the Committee seeks to understand how information gleaned from an investigation conducted separately from DOI OIG is shared with DOI OIG and Congress. Furthermore, the Committee seeks to understand the general process between DOI and NEEOISO for determining the need for contracting, conducting, and reporting investigations and the roles of the DOI Human Resources Offices, the Office of the Solicitor, and the Office of Inspector General in this process. As such, the Committee requests a joint briefing from DOI and USPS on the USPS-DOI agreement and related issues."

To read the full letter, click here. 

Background

HINU has a long and well-documented history of mismanagement, misconduct, and retaliation against students and employees. During the 118th Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce initiated a joint investigation related to Haskell Indian Nations University. On July 23, 2024, the Committees held a joint hearing that included testimony from former and current faculty at HINU, including former President Dr. Ronald Graham.

The joint investigation has uncovered a severe lack of oversight by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) that has allowed alleged misconduct to occur, including payroll fraud, embezzlement, retaliation against employees and students, mishandling of sexual assault incidents, non-adherence to federal background investigation requirements, and other issues. 

The Committee reviewed numerous instances where misconduct was reported by HINU faculty to the BIE but then referred to the United States Postal Service National Equal Employment Opportunity Investigative Services Office for an investigation. This request by the House Committee on Natural Resources is part of an ongoing investigation of issues at HINU, the agreement between DOI and USPS, and of the BIE.