Lumbee Tribe moves closer to federal recognition

President Donald Trump directed the Department of the Interior to aid the tribe’s efforts

President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order relating to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina in the Oval Office last Thursday. (Ben Curtis / AP Photo)

RALEIGH — North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe is one step closer to receiving federal recognition after action taken last week by President Donald Trump.

“Considering the Lumbee Tribe’s historical and modern significance, it is the policy of the United States to support the full Federal recognition, including the authority to receive full Federal benefits, of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina,” Trump’s memorandum to the secretary of the Interior states.

“I love the Lumbee Tribe,” Trump said while signing the memorandum among other items last Thursday.

The memorandum directs the secretary of the Interior to submit a plan to aid the Lumbee Tribe in obtaining full federal recognition through legislation or other available mechanisms. The plan must include the right to receive full federal benefits.

A tribe can gain federal recognition in three ways: through an Act of Congress, through the Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement process or through a federal court decision.

The Lumbee Tribe was recognized by the state of North Carolina in 1885. The tribe began seeking federal recognition in 1888 and has an estimated current membership of more than 55,000 people living in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) was among those who thanked Trump.

“Thank you, @‌POTUS @realdonaldtrump, for making federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina one step closer!” wrote Tillis in a post on X. “Now, Congress must do its job, fulfill its promise, and pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to make this federal recognition law.”

Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) echoed Tillis’ remarks in a post on X: “We will keep working to get the Lumbee Fairness Act passed and signed into law.”

Freshman Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.), whose district includes Hoke County, said in a statement to North State Journal, “The Lumbee People have waited for decades for full federal recognition — President Trump’s executive order could not have come at a better time.”

“But we can’t lose momentum now. The House and Senate must pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to codify this recognition once and for all. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this across the finish line.”

Trump had supported recognition of the Lumbee Tribe in his past presidential campaigns, including a promise in September 2024 that if elected, he would “sign legislation granting the great Lumbee Tribe federal recognition that it deserves.”

In late December 2024, the U.S. House passed the Lumbee Fairness Act, which would give the tribe full federal recognition and benefits. The bill was introduced by Rep. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) earlier in 2024, but the Senate has not yet passed the bill.

More than 30 bills recognizing the Lumbee Tribe have been filed in Congress over the years. In recent years, Rep. Richard Hudson (R- N.C.) introduced bills to recognize the tribe in 2020 and again in 2021. Both passed the House but did not receive a vote in the Senate.

North Carolina statehouse Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson) spoke to North State Journal positively about the memorandum, citing his support and continued push for federal recognition.

“I’ve always supported recognition. I’m a huge proponent of federal recognition,” said Britt. “I’ve worked as hard as I could from my level to influence other folks, such as U.S. Sen. Ted Budd whenever he was running and first started campaigning in Robeson County. I pushed him real hard on the issue of federal recognition.

“I think it will be an absolute shot in the arm that eastern North Carolina has never seen as far as the influx of dollars that would come in if we would receive full federal recognition. But there is still a long path, though I appreciate the symbolic nature of what President Trump has done. It’s something that, quite simply, no other president has ever done.”

Britt said the memorandum “goes a long way to influence those folks who may have a vote in the U.S. House or U.S. Senate,” though he underscored that the Lumbee Fairness Act still needed to be passed by both chambers of Congress.

The Robeson lawmaker also spoke about the Cherokee Indian Tribe — opponents of the Lumbee receiving recognition — having “deep pockets” that could impact the Senate’s vote.

About A.P. Dillon 1537 Articles
A.P. Dillon is a North State Journal reporter located near Raleigh, North Carolina. Find her on Twitter: @APDillon_