President Trump delivered on a historic promise by signing the Lumbee Fairness Act into law, finally correcting a 69-year injustice that denied North Carolina’s largest Native American tribe their rightful federal recognition and access to crucial government services.
Story Highlights
- Trump signed the Lumbee Fairness Act as part of the FY2026 NDAA, granting full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe
- The landmark legislation overturns the discriminatory 1956 Lumbee Act that left the tribe in “legal limbo” for nearly seven decades
- North Carolina’s Lumbee become the 575th federally recognized tribe, immediately eligible for all federal Indian programs and services
- Bipartisan North Carolina delegation successfully attached the measure to must-pass defense legislation after standalone bills repeatedly stalled
Trump Fulfills Campaign Promise with Historic Signature
President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act on December 18, 2025, officially granting the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina full federal recognition after a 137-year struggle. The signing ceremony marked the culmination of Trump’s early executive action in January 2025, when he directed the Department of the Interior to explore recognition pathways. Trump’s signing statement specifically highlighted “providing Federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina” as a key achievement embedded within the defense legislation.
Overturning Decades of Federal Discrimination
The Lumbee Fairness Act directly repeals the restrictive 1956 Lumbee Act, a termination-era law that acknowledged the Lumbee as Indians while simultaneously denying them federal services and blocking administrative recognition through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This discriminatory statute left approximately 55,000 Lumbee tribal members unable to access Indian Health Service healthcare, tribal education programs, or housing assistance available to other federally recognized tribes. Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery celebrated the moment, declaring that “the 1956 Act which left us in legal limbo is now erased.”
Strategic Legislative Victory Through Defense Bill
North Carolina’s congressional delegation employed shrewd political strategy by attaching the Lumbee Fairness Act to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act rather than pursuing standalone legislation. Representative David Rouzer introduced H.R. 474 in January 2025 with broad bipartisan support from the North Carolina delegation, while Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd championed the Senate companion bill. The House successfully included the Lumbee provision in their September NDAA passage, and conference committee negotiations preserved the language despite initial Senate resistance.
The legislative breakthrough represents a masterful example of conservative governance delivering results for forgotten Americans. Unlike previous failed attempts spanning multiple decades, Trump’s administration prioritized the Lumbee cause from day one, demonstrating how effective leadership can cut through bureaucratic red tape and political gridlock. Speaker Alex Baker of the Lumbee Tribal Council emphasized the spiritual significance of the achievement, crediting “more than a century of perseverance, petitions, testimonies, and answered prayers” from Lumbee ancestors who maintained their cultural identity without federal support.
Immediate Access to Federal Programs and Services
Federal recognition immediately qualifies the Lumbee for comprehensive government programs including Indian Health Service medical care, Bureau of Indian Affairs tribal support services, and HUD Native American housing assistance. The new status establishes a formal government-to-government relationship between the Lumbee and federal agencies, potentially affecting law enforcement jurisdiction, environmental regulations, and cultural resource protection. As one of the largest tribes in the eastern United States, Lumbee recognition carries significant financial implications and sets important precedents for resolving long-standing Native American policy disputes through legislative action rather than prolonged administrative processes.
This victory exemplifies how conservative principles of limited government, constitutional respect, and individual liberty can align with correcting historical injustices. The Lumbee recognition restores fundamental rights that should never have been denied, while demonstrating Trump’s commitment to keeping promises made to overlooked communities across America.
Sources:
Trump signs NDAA, officially granting Lumbee full federal recognition
