Bureau of Indian Affairs staffing shortages stall missing Native people investigations

A federal audit by the Interior Department’s watchdog has revealed that staffing shortages and fund redirection have stalled investigations within the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit. Created in 2021 to combat violence against Native Americans, the unit has faced persistent personnel deficits that have resulted in case backlogs and a lack of required victim services for families.

While federal spending for the initiative rose from $12 million to $17 million between 2021 and 2024, auditors found that 39% of those funds were redirected to other law enforcement costs, such as vehicle upgrades. As of last year, nearly half of the unit’s positions remained unfilled, coinciding with a broader loss of one-third of the bureau’s total workforce due to staffing cuts.

The impact of these shortages is felt by families like those of Peter Martin, who went missing from the Fond Du Lac reservation in Minnesota two years ago. His family reports that the investigation stalled after the assigned agent left the role in early 2025 and has not been replaced. Although the bureau stated it is adopting recommendations to streamline referrals and improve training, auditors noted that weaknesses in the hiring process persist.