Key reports addressing violence against Indigenous women are gone from federal sites

The removals came ahead of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Day of Awareness.

Younger generations are making their voices heard by painting handprints on their faces to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. (Photo Credit: Lourie Shaull)

In the lead-up to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Day of Awareness, at least two key federal reports related to violence against Indigenous communities have been removed from U.S. Department of Justice websites, sparking concern among advocacy groups and legal experts.

One of the reports, commissioned under legislation signed by former President Donald Trump, focused on increasing interagency coordination in cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous people. Another, a 2016 study funded by the National Institute of Justice, highlighted the disproportionately high rates of violence Indigenous women face compared to white women. That study’s summary page now redirects to the agency’s homepage, and has been inaccessible since at least early February, according to web archives.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has not responded to inquiries about the administration's current commitment to addressing this ongoing crisis.

May 5 is observed as a day of mourning and mobilization in Native communities. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s Day of Awareness honors those lost to violence and calls attention to the lack of justice in many of these cases. The day originated with the story of Hanna Harris, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe who was murdered in 2013. Following law enforcement’s failure to act when she was reported missing, Montana passed “Hanna’s Act” in 2018 to improve collaboration among agencies in missing persons investigations.

In recent years, the observance has expanded to recognize violence affecting Native people of all genders, including girls and two-spirit individuals. Despite bipartisan efforts over the last decade to address the crisis—through both legislation and executive action—advocates say recent developments are undermining that progress.

The Not Invisible Act, signed into law in 2020, was intended to bolster federal coordination and accountability in addressing violence against Indigenous communities. The final report from the commission created by that law has also disappeared from the Department of Justice’s website. The report, still available through the National Indian Women’s Resource Center, included key recommendations on improving victim services, law enforcement training, and data tracking.

Although the Not Invisible Act was signed under the Trump administration, implementation largely took place during the Biden administration, with Secretary Deb Haaland—the first Native American Cabinet member—leading much of the initiative.

The disappearance of these documents coincides with a broader effort to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across federal agencies. Recent executive orders targeting so-called “gender ideology” have resulted in the removal of DEI-related content and programs. According to a Department of Justice official, some pages were removed as part of a larger review of content in line with those executive directives.

These actions have raised questions about the administration's public commitments to Indigenous communities. On April 21, at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, U.S. Counselor for Economic and Social Affairs Edward Heartney affirmed that the United States remains committed to advancing the rights and well-being of Indigenous women and girls. He cited “economic empowerment” as a foundational strategy, and referenced initiatives like Operation Not Forgotten—launched in 2023 to provide FBI resources to tribal field offices handling missing persons cases.

Heartney’s remarks reportedly received no response from the audience, and he left immediately after delivering them.

Advocates emphasize that addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people requires a multi-pronged approach. The 2022 reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) included new provisions empowering tribal authorities to prosecute non-Native perpetrators. In addition, nonprofit organizations providing support to survivors play a crucial role in helping individuals escape violence and seek justice.

But that work depends on consistent federal funding—funding that is now in question.

On February 6, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women removed multiple grant opportunity notices for 2025 from its website, including one for the Tribal Governments Program. That initiative awarded more than $45 million to tribal entities in fiscal year 2024. The application deadline for the 2025 cycle was April 10, yet the notice has not reappeared online in nearly three months.

Organizations working to support Indigenous survivors of domestic violence are now facing a precarious situation. Many have chosen not to speak publicly, citing fear of funding cuts or political retaliation, while others have simply gone silent amid growing uncertainty.