Strengthening Tribal Communities

From Disaster to Resilience: Strengthening Tribal Communities through Federal Response, Mitigation, and Relocation Programs

TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM H. KIRKLAND, III
ASSISTANT SECRETARY - INDIAN AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
MAY 6, 2026

Chairman Murkowski, Vice Chairman Schatz, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the Department of the Interior (Department) regarding our response to Typhoon Halong. My name is William Kirkland, and I am the Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs at the Department.

Alaska Native communities are central to the Department’s mission and trust responsibilities. Our work in Alaska is grounded in a government-to-government relationship with Native villages and a commitment to supporting the self-determination, cultural integrity, and long-term resilience of Alaska Native people. This includes ensuring that federal programs are responsive to the unique geographic and cultural context of Alaska. The Department recognizes that the strength of these communities is vital not only to the region, but to the Nation as a whole, and we remain committed to upholding these responsibilities.

Sitting here in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta), the Department remains profoundly aware that for the 56 villages in this region, the impact of Typhoon Halong was not a singular meteorological event, but is complex and ongoing. While the Department of the Interior is not the lead agency in responding to Typhoon Halong, our response in Alaska reflects a sustained commitment to protecting lives, lands, and the well-being of Native communities, even under the most challenging circumstances.

When the storm struck in October 2025, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) moved immediately to maintain continuity of critical operations and ensure that life and safety remained the top priority. The BIA’s Office of Emergency Management initiated a coordinated response that would continue around the clock for the duration of the storm and its aftermath ensuring real-time coordination across federal, state, and Native partners. This allowed the Department to maintain situational awareness and respond dynamically as conditions evolved across the Y-K Delta.

The Department’s response also extended beyond infrastructure to supporting the people and communities affected by the storm. In Anchorage, where many residents from impacted villages sought refuge, BIA leadership engaged directly with evacuees at the Alaska Airlines Center, the Egan Center, and Bettye Davis East High School. These interactions were focused on sharing timely information, offering support, and helping provide a measure of stability for displaced residents from communities such as Kipnuk, Kwigillingok, and Nightmute during a particularly challenging time.

Recognizing the heightened vulnerabilities that can accompany mass displacement, the Department also prioritized public safety and awareness. In December 2025, agents from the Office of Justice Services’ Missing and Murdered Unit and the Division of Drug Enforcement delivered targeted training to adult evacuees, focusing on the risks of human trafficking and drug-related threats; issues that can intensify in the aftermath of disasters.

The Department also ensured that financial support continued to reach Native households despite disruptions to normal systems for processing and disbursement of federal funds and social services. Through close coordination between regional leadership and the BIA Central Office, an additional $1.4 million in Welfare Assistance funding was deployed to support affected families, preventing a lapse in critical services during a time of acute need.

Today, the Department’s work in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta remains active and coordinated through established recovery efforts. BIA personnel continue to participate in weekly “All Hands” calls as part of the Halong Alaska Recovery Team, working alongside Native organizations and partners to ensure a unified and sustained response. In parallel, the BIA is leading coordination under the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program, focusing on the repair and restoration of boardwalks and transportation systems that serve as essential infrastructure in coastal communities.

The Department’s mission is carried out in Alaska, not only through programs and funding, but through the dedication of career professionals who remain on the ground during events like Typhoon Halong. Their work reflects an enduring commitment to the federal trust responsibility and to the resilience and well-being of Alaska Native communities.