Department of Transportation Plan of Actions

As directed in the Presidential Memorandum issued on January 26, 2021, titled “Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships,” the U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) consulted with Indian Tribes during three listening sessions held on March 10, 15, and 24, 2021. In addition, on March 9, 2021, the Department published a Federal Register notice seeking public comment on issues related to tribal consultation and communication with Tribes. The comment period closed on March 31, 2021. The Department received 219 comments from 25 Tribal Nations and Tribal organizations regarding how the Department’s Tribal consultation policy and procedures can be improved to better implement Executive Order (EO) 13175 and to strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the U.S. and Indian Tribes. These comments ranged from requesting a clearer definition of consultation, to protection of culturally significant information collected during consultation, requiring DOT employees to take Tribal training (on topics such as sovereignty and trust responsibility) to requesting DOT combine our Tribal Policy and Tribal Consultation Plan into one document.