HHS Virtual Tribal Listening Sessions

June 23, 2025

Dear Tribal Leader:

On March 27, 2025, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced a major restructuring of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department) in accordance with
President Trump’s Executive Order on “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of
Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.” The changes being made across the
Department will serve multiple purposes without impacting critical services—all towards the
goal to Make America Healthy Again. Details on the reorganization can be found in this Fact
Sheet released in conjunction with the Secretary’s announcement.

The Secretary understands the vital importance of the Indian health system to the well-being of
Tribes across the United States. The current restructuring will help to streamline services,
consolidate offices, and better address unmet needs in Indian country. Our Department is
committed to prioritizing Indian health and the government-to-government relationship under
Secretary Kennedy’s leadership.

On behalf of the Secretary and the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, I invite you
to a Tribal listening session on the HHS Reorganization. This listening session will provide an
opportunity for Tribes to collectively share their feedback and priorities regarding the HHS
reorganization. HHS leadership will be present to hear your feedback on their specific programs
and services. Due to the temporary restraining order preventing the Department from active
public engagement on the reorganization issued in American Federation of Government
Employees, AFL-CIO v. Trump, No. 3:2025cv03698 (N.D. Cal. 2025), HHS participants will be
limited to receiving Tribal comments during the listening session for internal planning purposes.
We hope the listening session will contribute to the Department’s greater understanding of the
Tribal implications of these proposed changes, as well as Tribal recommendations for this action.
Tribal leaders are encouraged to submit comments on any aspect of the HHS reorganization to
inform our internal planning through the following methods:

HHS Virtual Tribal Listening Sessions
Date: July 16 – July 17, 2025
Where: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/6JeZupMwTjmpR3ly2Qz9wA
Time: 12:00 – 5:30 pm ET each day
Draft Agenda: forthcoming

Written Comments
Written comments related to the HHS reorganization are requested by July 18, 2025.
Please send comments via one of the following methods:

• • Email: TribalAffairs@hhs.gov

• • Subject Line: Tribal Listening Session on the HHS Reorganization

• • Postal Mail: Darcie L. Johnston, Principal Deputy Director, IEA

200 Independence Ave. SW
Mail Stop: 620E.11
Washington, DC 20201

On behalf of the Secretary, thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work to
improve Indian healthcare and the health of all Americans. If you have questions related to this
listening session, please direct them to my office at TribalAffairs@hhs.gov.

Sincerely,
/s/ Darcie L. Johnston
Darcie L. Johnston, Principal Deputy Director
Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs