Why It Matters
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe faces two distinct economic challenges. First, the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program–critical for tribal energy sovereignty– is currently facing federal budget cuts. The tribe is backing the Tribal Energy Fairness Act of 2025, which would remove matching fund requirements and expand loan guarantee eligibility.
Then, the Dakota Removal Act also remains unresolved, as the tribe pursues substantive economic and land-based redress through federal remedies. South Dakota’s 2025 repeal of The Dakota Removal Act was mainly symbolic, offering historical acknowledgment without apologizing or providing reparations.
By the Numbers
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe filed its disclosure for the fourth quarter of 2025 as $50,000 with Peebles Bergin Schulte & Robinson LLP, up from $40,000 in each prior quarter of 2025. The firm has filed 22 disclosures totaling $622,312 since March 2022.
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe also retains Navigators Global LLC, with 10 disclosures totaling $450,000 since January 2024.
They are represented by Xavier A. Barraza, a former Senate Committee on Indian Affairs staff assistant, and veteran tribal lobbyist Peter D. Lepsch, who has filed 20 disclosures on the tribe’s behalf since 2022.
Broader Context
A GAO report released in September 2025 found that the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued only one tribal energy loan guarantee since 2018 despite 20 applications. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated unobligated funds for the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program, threatening $1.5 billion in green energy investment for tribal communities. The Tribal Energy Fairness Act (S.1181), introduced by Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), aims to address these gaps.
Between The Lines
Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Brian Schatz have publicly opposed Republican proposals to cut tribal energy funding, signaling partisan disagreement amid broader budget battles. The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is pursuing federal lobbying efforts for the inclusion of reparations in the Dakota Removal Act, due to a lack of congressional support from either party.
Competitive Landscape
The Twentynine Palms Band of Mission Indians has lobbied on the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program while expressing concerns with its provisions. On historical redress, descendants of the Mdewakanton Sioux have filed suit seeking federal recognition and $5 billion in reparations. On the Dakota Removal Act, no competing tribal advocacy is evident—potentially a less crowded arena for the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.
The Bottom Line
The Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe is intensifying federal advocacy for the Tribal Energy Fairness Act as 2025 budget cuts eliminate existing program funds for The Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program. Incomplete state-level action on the Dakota Removal Act, keeps the tribe focused on federal solutions. The fourth quarter spending increase signals heightened urgency on both fronts.
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