Federal Register #2026-12324

Final Rule: Streamlining Regulations for Native American Programs (No Procurement)

This final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), via the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), updates regulations for Native American Programs: - No procurement of products or services is involved - No OEMs or commercial vendors are mentioned - The rule eliminates unnecessary, duplicative, or obsolete regulations affecting programs administered by the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) - Impacts the administration of competitive discretionary grants for Native-led, community-based projects - Focus areas include social and economic development, Native language preservation, and environmental regulatory enhancement - Moves certain regulatory requirements to sub-regulatory guidance (e.g., Notices of Funding Opportunity) - Rescinds outdated program regulations, such as the unfunded Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund - Clarifies eligibility for for-profit entities under statutory authority - Aims to streamline grant processes and reduce administrative burden for Native American communities - No products, part numbers, or purchase quantities are specified

Description

The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, issued a final rule amending the Native American Programs Act regulations to eliminate unnecessary or obsolete regulations. The rule aims to reduce duplication, move some regulatory language to sub-regulatory formats, and remove outdated provisions. It affects competitive discretionary grants that support Native-led, community-based projects for social and economic development, Native language preservation, and environmental regulatory enhancement. The rule is effective August 17, 2026, and comments were accepted via Regulations.gov.

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