By Shondiin Silversmith | AZ Mirror
Concerns are growing about President Donald Trump’s planned closure of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Phoenix.
Arizona U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego sent a letter to the General Services Administration expressing their concern about the intended closure, urging them to reconsider this decision and provide clarity.
The BIA office in Phoenix is located on Central Avenue south of Thomas Road. It serves 53 tribes in the western region, including 20 from Arizona. The office’s planned lease termination date is Aug. 31.
“Its closure will severely limit access for all of these tribes to essential services ranging from economic development to child social services to water system improvements,” the senators wrote in their letter.
