Why It Matters

The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on July 14 examining how emerging technologies and forensic tools can help address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis. Federal officials highlighted initiatives including Operation Not Forgotten, Operation Lady Justice and Operation Spirit Return, which use advanced technology and interagency coordination to investigate missing persons cases in tribal communities.

The hearing brought together federal officials, tribal leaders, researchers and private-sector experts to discuss investigative tools and coordination efforts. According to testimony, Indigenous women experience disproportionately high rates of violence, and witnesses discussed how advances in DNA analysis, data sharing and search technology could improve investigations.

The Big Picture: Years of Federal Neglect, New Momentum

The missing and murdered Indigenous persons crisis has persisted for decades with an inadequate response from the federal government. Jurisdiction confusion, racial misclassification, severe underfunding, and poor relationships between tribal and local law enforcement have allowed cases to remain unsolved and ignored. The Not Invisible Act Commission issued more than 300 recommendations for Congress and the administration to address the issue, but the Trump administration removed that commission's report from the Department of Justice website.

The July 14 hearing represents an attempt to move past these systemic failures. The hearing focused on how federal agencies, tribal governments and private organizations are using new technologies to improve investigations. Operation Not Forgotten has deployed drones equipped with LIDAR, thermal imaging and infrared cameras during search operations. Federal investigators have also used sonar technology in search efforts. Operation Spirit Return, launched by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in 2025, partners with private-sector organizations to apply advances in forensic DNA analysis and genetic genealogy.

Members also discussed the Badges for Native American Communities Act, which would strengthen law enforcement coordination, improve data collection and authorize the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct its own background investigations for law enforcement applicants.

Congressional Testimony: Five Voices on Innovation and Trust

The House Natural Resources Committee subcommittees on Indian Insular Affairs and Oversight and Investigations convened five witnesses, ranging from federal officials, to tribal leaders, researchers, and a forensic DNA expert.

Charles Addington, Principal Director of the Office of Justice Services at the Bureau of Indian Affairs within the U.S. Department of the Interior, submitted written testimony on behalf of the department. Addington outlined how the federal government has strengthened investigative coordination, expanded intelligence sharing, enhanced victim services, and improved collaboration among tribal, BIA, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.

OJ Semans, Executive Director of the Coalition of Large Tribes, brought perspective from tribal leadership. The Coalition organized a three-day advanced training on MMIP in Billings, Montana, in response to approximately 4,200 unsolved missing and murdered cases. Semans represented the frustration and determination of tribal communities working to solve their own cases.

Abigail Echo-Hawk, Executive Vice President of the Urban Indian Health Institute, testified as a leading national voice on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls crisis. Echo-Hawk co-authored a landmark 2018 report analyzing data from 71 urban cities in the United States. The Urban Indian Health Institute has also issued corrective reports challenging incomplete government data on missing Native women and girls.

Grace Bulltail, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, brought academic expertise. Bulltail was appointed to the Not Invisible Act Commission and understands the gap between federal recommendations and actual implementation.

David Mittelman, Chief Executive Officer of Othram Inc., a forensic DNA company based in The Woodlands, Texas, represented private sector innovation. In February 2025, the BIA announced a formal partnership with Othram. Through this partnership, a Standing Rock man was identified using DNA samples from relatives and forensic genetic genealogy. Othram has assisted the BIA in locating missing tribal members, including Michelle Elbo Shield, who was identified in January 2025 after disappearing from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota nearly two years earlier.

Political Stakes: Administration Commitment Meets Skepticism

The Trump administration has invested in high-profile operations and private partnerships, signaling commitment to solving cases. However, tribal leaders and community members are not hopeful that the federal government can deliver solutions. Trust remains fractured after decades of neglect, and the removal of the Not Invisible Act Commission report from the Justice Department website hasn't helped the matter.

For the BIA and Department of Interior, the hearing offered an opportunity to showcase progress. Federal officials pointed to Operation Not Forgotten, Operation Lady Justice, and Operation Spirit Return as evidence of efforts to address this longstanding issue.

For tribal communities, however, the hearing highlighted ongoing skepticism. Tribal leaders and community members lack trust in the federal government regarding solutions to this crisis, and staffing, recruitment, and retention of law enforcement officers remain ongoing issues. The fact that approximately 4,200 unsolved missing and murdered cases still exist suggests that technology and operations, while necessary, are not sufficient without sustained funding and cultural change in how law enforcement prioritizes Indigenous cases.

For Congress, the hearing provided momentum for the Badges for Native American Communities Act and other MMIP legislation. The bipartisan nature of concern about this crisis, reflected in pending legislation, suggests potential for action in the 119th Congress, where Republicans hold the majority in both chambers.

The Other Side: Technology Cannot Replace Trust and Resources

While the hearing celebrated technological innovation, the hearing highlighted that many missing indigenous persons cases are never reported or fully investigated in the first place. While technology can solve cases once they enter the system, systemic underfunding and poor relationships between tribal and local law enforcement mean cases never get investigated thoroughly.

The Not Invisible Act Commission's removal from the Justice Department website also signals tension within the administration. The commission issued over 300 recommendations addressing funding, staffing, and systemic reform. Technology partnerships with companies like Othram are valuable, but they do not address the fundamental resource constraints and jurisdictional confusion that the commission identified.

Tribal leaders emphasized that federal initiatives must be paired with sustained commitment to tribal sovereignty and adequate resources. The hearing demonstrated that innovation is possible, but it cannot substitute for the long-term investment in tribal law enforcement capacity and federal-tribal partnerships that communities have been requesting for years.

What's Next: Legislation and Follow-Up Hearings

The Badges for Native American Communities Act remains pending in Congress. The House Natural Resources Committee hearing on July 14 provided testimony and evidence to support this legislation.

Additional hearings may follow as Congress examines other aspects of the missing indigenous persons crisis. The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act is also proposed legislation addressing these issues.

The BIA's Missing and Murdered Unit, which leads Operation Spirit Return, will continue partnerships with Othram and other private sector innovators. Federal agencies will deploy additional technology and personnel through Operation Not Forgotten and Operation Lady Justice. The question remains whether these efforts will be sustained and whether they will be paired with the funding and staffing increases that tribal communities say are essential.

The Bottom Line

The July 14 congressional hearing showcased federal commitment to solving missing and murdered Indigenous cases through technology and coordination, but tribal skepticism about long-term federal follow-through remains the central tension in this crisis.

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