Nevada Tribe’s Water Grant Canceled Amid Trump’s Federal Spending Cuts
The Walker River Paiute Tribe in Nevada has lost a crucial $20 million grant aimed at enhancing water access on its reservation due to the Trump administration’s aggressive reductions in federal spending. The grant, which had been uncertain since the administration’s inception, was integral to completing a water infrastructure project designed to improve supply reliability and facilitate construction on the tribe’s 325,000-acre reservation, situated approximately 100 miles southeast of Reno.
The initiative also included plans for a community resilience hub, featuring a nutritional wellness facility connected to the reservation’s food pantry and serving as a gathering space during emergencies, including extreme heat events. The hub was slated to incorporate solar energy and battery storage.
Kirsten Stasio, CEO of the Nevada Clean Energy Fund, which was awarded the grant, emphasized that the project transcends divisive themes, stating, “These are critical infrastructure projects for a tribal rural community that’s also going to benefit the surrounding rural communities.” She asserted that the project aligns with the administration’s goals of reducing energy costs and enhancing resilience, challenging the notion that it was tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed the cancellation in a letter dated May 1, labeling the intended project as misaligned with its funding priorities. A spokesperson claimed the Biden-Harris administration’s emphasis on "wasteful DEI programs" undermined the EPA’s core mission.
With the project’s future now uncertain, Stasio is in communication with Governor Joe Lombardo’s office to explore potential solutions, although a lawsuit or alternative funding sources remain possibilities. Despite the setback, tribal council officials maintain that such projects are vital to the welfare of the tribe’s approximately 1,200 members.
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