COVID-19 Relief Funds: GAO Recomends improvments in Future Distribution of Federal Emergency Relief to Tribal Recipients

COVID-19 Relief Funds: Lessons Learned Could Improve Future Distribution of Federal Emergency Relief to Tribal Recipients The public health and economic effects of COVID-19 on tribal nations have been especially severe. To help tribes recover, Congress's pandemic relief... U.S. Government Accountability Office USGAO

GAO Rport  Summary

The public health and economic effects of COVID-19 on tribal nations have been especially severe. To help tribes recover, Congress's pandemic relief funding has included at least $43.6 billion to support new and existing programs that tribes could use to address their unique needs.

While some agencies used existing programs to distribute funds quickly, others had to develop new ones. In some cases, these new programs inadvertently created barriers for tribes' access to relief funds.

We recommended that Congress consider taking steps to ensure that agencies can distribute future emergency funding to tribal recipients quickly with fewer barriers.

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