Native Issues
GSA Termination
Mar 10, 2025

Yakama Nation lease agreement cut amid federal spending reductions


March 10, 2025

The Yakama Nation announced the early termination of its lease agreement with the General Services Agency, ending a five-year contract two years ahead of schedule due to federal budget cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency. The lease, valued at $533,985, provided office space for 85 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employees at the Yakama Nation's Toppenish, Wash., headquarters. Although the termination notice did not specify a reason, the DOGE website lists it as a savings. The lease was originally scheduled to end in October 2027 but will now terminate on September 25, 2025. The BIA has stated it will continue to provide services to the tribe despite the lease changes.

We provide the independent reporting that non-Native, extractive outlets often overlook. We give our communities the context and the facts they need to make informed decisions.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government decision-making for everyone who cares about transparency about Native issues. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise. Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact.