The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) applauds the White House nomination of William "Billy" Kirkland III to serve as Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. This position is critical to upholding the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities and ensuring the effective delivery of services to Tribal Nations and individuals.

Kirkland brings leadership experience in areas relevant to Indian Affairs, having previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs from 2017 to 2021. Kirkland is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia.

"NCAI looks forward to engaging with Kirkland upon his confirmation to protect and further strengthen the government-to-government relationship and advance policy priorities that support Tribal Nations," says NCAI President Mark Macarro. "We remain committed to working in partnership with the Department of the Interior to uphold tribal sovereignty."

Kirkland’s nomination will now be considered for confirmation by the Senate, beginning with the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.