This page provides reference to the various policies made a the federal level to address the MMIP issue to understand what is being done and where gaps remain.
Executive actions represent the federal government's most direct and immediate tool for signaling priority and directing agency behavior. Unlike legislation, which requires congressional approval, executive orders and memoranda allow a president to instruct federal agencies to act, coordinate, and report on specific issues. In the context of MMIP, executive actions have been significant moments of federal acknowledgment that the crisis exists and demands a response. However, executive actions are also inherently fragile. They can be reversed, deprioritized, or left unimplemented when administrations change or political attention shifts.
Legislation represents the most formal expression of federal commitment to addressing MMIP. When Congress passes a law, it creates legal obligations, directs agencies to act, and in some cases authorizes funding to support that action. The laws passed in recent years reflect growing recognition that the federal government has failed Indigenous communities and that structural reform is necessary. But legislation is only as meaningful as its implementation. Laws can be passed without adequate funding. Agencies can comply minimally or inconsistently. Deadlines can pass without consequence.
Beyond legislation and executive action, the federal government has developed a range of programs, databases, and coordination mechanisms intended to improve the response to MMIP. These resources vary widely in their scope, accessibility, and effectiveness. Some represent genuine progress in building the infrastructure needed to track cases and coordinate across jurisdictions. Others exist on paper but remain inaccessible to the tribal law enforcement agencies that need them most, or are chronically underfunded relative to the scale of the crisis they are meant to address.
Last updated May 1, 2026