Several federal agencies have started audits of the 8(a) contracting program, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called 'the oldest DEI program in the federal government.'
earlier this week in support of Alaska Native Corporations' participation in a federal contracting program. The show of support came amid increased scrutiny over the program and growing concerns from Native contractors about its slowdown.
The 8 Business Development Program falls under the U.S. Small Business Administration and allows disadvantaged individuals, tribes and Alaska Native Corporations to compete for federal contracts. Federal contracts are often the Haven Harris, the senior vice president of growth and strategy at Bering Straits Native Corporation, said in an interview those contracts "We were able to give out a record dividend last year," he said.
"We gave out our first special dividend ever just a month ago, and it's all because of the benefits of federal contracting for us. ", and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called it"the oldest DEI program in the federal government. " The government has been also The Legislature's resolution urges the federal government to preserve the unique status of tribal entities within the program. Rep.
Maxine Dibert, who co-chairs the House Resources Committee, described the 8 program as a"strong economic driver.
" "In a time of financial uncertainty for our state, it is important to protect this program that provides billions of dollars in revenue, produces thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in scholarships to help grow our next generation of Alaskan workers," she wrote in an email. Harris, of the Bering Straits Native Corporation, is also a board co-chair of the Native American Contractors Association.
He said Native contractors across the state and country are concerned that the government is awarding fewer contracts and has not been accepting new applications into the program. No new businesses have been accepted into the program since August of last year, Harris said. Back in 2024, a record 600 new applications were approved, and before that the average was more than 300, he said. Last year, only 65 were approved.
"Because we've had such a barrage of change, we really had to take a different approach, where we're spending more time trying to engage the administration and to a degree that we've never done before," he said. "The gist of the letter was essentially to ask the SBA to really come and sit at the table with us," Harris said.
"And then, more specifically, we'd like more information on why the SBA has not approved an 8 application since about Aug. 15 of 2025, which is an unprecedented length. " Along with the Legislature's joint resolution, Alaska's congressional delegation and Gov. Mike Dunleavy have all signaled their support for Alaska Native participation in the program.
"We believe that once our federal partners and the administration understands the efficiency tool that they have in the 8 program, and the good work that we have done, the value to taxpayers and the war fighters as well, that we will be back to the cadence that we've become used to," she said. Alena Naiden covers rural and Indigenous communities for the Alaska Desk from partner station KNBA in Anchorage. Reach her at alena.naiden@knba.org or 907-793-3695.
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