RED LAKE — One day after announcing it would freeze federal grants and loans, the federal Office of Management and Budget appears to have rescinded the move on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
But according to NPR, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt says the action only applied to memo calling for the temporary pause and not the efforts themselves to “end the egregious waste of federal funding."
Among those programs that appear to be targeted are dozens of tribal funding streams.
The Red Lake Tribal Council met in a special session Wednesday to form a plan of action against the series of executive orders coming from the President Donald J. Trump administration, breaking for lunch moments before the apparent rescission of the freeze.
One legal priority for Red Lake is distinguishing tribal programs and their related federal funding from diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programming. Grants or loans associated with DEI efforts are among those explicitly named as targets of the federal spending audits.
Michelle Paquin, the band’s legal adviser, pointed out that Red Lake is not an ethnic group, but a political entity.
“Even though the president may have done this to apply to all federal grants," Paquin explained, "[he] has a different lens to look at, when it comes to tribes and protecting our sovereignty, and their trust responsibility."
Chairman Darrell Seki Sr. condemned the actions of Trump at the beginning of the meeting and emphasized that his own priorities are with the people of Red Lake.
Seki evoked Project 2025, a policy blueprint published by the conservative Heritage Foundation before Trump’s reelection.
“When he campaigned, he denied that he was involved in Project 2025, but everything he's doing now is related to Project 2025," Seki said. "Read Project 2025. Read it. He's doing what it states there ... on [Project] 2025. So he lied. He continues to lie.”
Red Lake Secretary Sam Strong also advised that his team is distributing tribal documentation to members living in Minneapolis.
Red Lake is seeking information from members who have had interactions with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and is waiving its typical fee for ID renewals or issuances.
Navajo Nation leaders in the southwest U.S. are raising alarm over its members reportedly being targeted in ICE operations, and tribal leaders across the country are urging ICE to accept tribal IDs as proof of citizenship.
WRLN's Jon Roberts contributed to this report.
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Contributed/University of Minnesota PressIn this episode of Ham Radio: Cooking With Amy Thielen we are all about the summer kitchen.Guests include Alena Levina, one of the contributors of the new cookbook Kitchens of Hope: Immigrants Share Stories of Resilience and Recipes from Home. Alena gives us her family recipe from Belarus: Holodnik or Summer Beet Soup. Alena lives in St. Paul and talks family and farmers markets and memories of outdoor cooking in the summertime. And Holodnik is our Community recipe this week! (stay tuned, we'll post soon! Or check out our past recipes of the week!)We're also thrilled to bring you a conversation with newly awarded St. Paul chef Karyn Tomlinson. She just won the James Beard award for Best Chef of the Midwest. Her restaurant is Myriel in St. Paul and she features local produce from farmers in her hometown of Dassel. We learn about how this strong connection to the local food forges not just sustainable friendships but creates a magic in the kitchen where limitation can mean creativity.So many texts and calls came rolling in this week about favorite summertime recipes and memories. From Mikki's gazpacho, Iris's ratatouille, Steve's watermelon Coke and carving a watermelon in the shape of a beautiful basket, we loved every single second of it. We continue to hear from our Ham Radio fans. Like this one from Sarah: "I especially loved last week’s conversation about recipes and Amy’s appreciation for older ones with those classic “grandma directions” (like using half an eggshell of water in the homemade noodles) and your discussion about special recipes with stories behind them (hello beer cooler chicken)."and a listener who share this memory:"Fresh brook trout with new potatoes has been a summer favorite since I was a young man. I remember doing "quasi-regular "brook trout delivery" to family in our neighborhood. Wonderful memories and a wonderful meal for all.Delivery? How do we sign up? Hope you enjoyed the first season of Ham Radio: Cooking With Amy Thielen. Tell others about us, pass the word and send us your memories and recipes! Ham Radio features original licensed music — "You Know How I Like It" by Jeremy Messersmith.Made possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage Fund. Support KAXE by becoming a member today: https://donate.nprstations.org/kaxe/donate -
Plus: Water infrastructure funding covers $5M gap for Aurora water plant; and the Outdoor School for All grant program becomes law in Minnesota. -
Larissa Donovan/KAXEWhether in search of supplies, groceries or even a hot meal, Bemidjians flocked to the location as the first day of operations began for the new center. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEItasca County celebrated Pride Month with a festival at the Old Central School grounds in Grand Rapids on Sunday, June 22, 2025. -
Dani Fraher/KAXEMinnesota DNR foresters have begun taking stock of the conditions of the forests and the nearby waters after the Brimson Complex fires burned thousands of acres. -
Contributed/Mikki AndersonThis week is the season finale of "Ham Radio: Cooking with Amy Thielen," and we're talking about summer in the kitchen. What are your favorite things to make and/or eat during the summertime? -
Events this week include the beginning of the Northern Lights Music Festival on the Iron Range, an author talk in Brainerd and Independence Day celebrations across the region. -
Lorie Shaull/KAXEThe law allocates $848,000 to support accredited residential environmental learning centers in offering multi-day, overnight experiences focused on outdoor-based learning. -
Contributed/Submitted photo via MinnPostOut of all the Legislature did this year, getting this funding will make the most impact around the state, said Bradley Peterson of Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities. -
Contributed/Mike Moen | Minnesota News ConnectionThe Hortmans, who were fatally shot inside their home June 14, will lie in state from noon to 5 p.m. at the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda.
