The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina has taken a significant step toward receiving full federal recognition following a recent memorandum signed by former President Donald Trump.
In the document addressed to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Trump stated that it is U.S. policy to support full recognition of the Lumbee Tribe, including the right to receive federal benefits.
“I love the Lumbee Tribe,” Trump said while signing the memorandum last Thursday.
The directive calls on the Department of the Interior to develop a plan to secure full federal recognition for the tribe, either through legislation or other available means.
Decades-Long Fight for Recognition
The Lumbee Tribe, which has more than 55,000 members residing in Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland, and Scotland counties, has sought federal recognition since 1888. While the state of North Carolina officially recognized the tribe in 1885, federal recognition has remained elusive.
A tribe can receive federal recognition through one of three ways:
- An Act of Congress
- The Department of the Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgment process
- A federal court ruling
Over the years, more than 30 bills seeking to grant the Lumbee Tribe federal recognition have been introduced in Congress.
Congressional Leaders Respond
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) expressed his gratitude for Trump’s action, calling on Congress to act.
“Now, Congress must do its job, fulfill its promise, and pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to make this federal recognition law,” Tillis wrote in a post on X.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) echoed Tillis’ remarks, saying, “We will keep working to get the Lumbee Fairness Act passed and signed into law.”
Rep. Mark Harris (R-N.C.), whose district includes Hoke County, also emphasized the need for congressional action.
“The Lumbee people have waited for decades for full federal recognition — President Trump’s executive order could not have come at a better time,” Harris stated. “But we can’t lose momentum now. The House and Senate must pass the Lumbee Fairness Act to codify this recognition once and for all.”
Legislative Progress & Challenges Ahead
In December 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Lumbee Fairness Act (H.R. 1101) by a vote of 311-96. The bill would grant the Lumbee Tribe full federal recognition, but it was not considered by the U.S. Senate before the end of the 118th Congress.
Similar legislation has passed the House of Representatives several times but has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. In 2020 and 2021, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) introduced bills recognizing the Lumbee Tribe—both passed in the House but never received a vote in the Senate.
Supporters Hopeful Despite Opposition
State Sen. Danny Britt (R-Robeson), a longtime supporter of Lumbee recognition, praised Trump’s memorandum but acknowledged that the final decision still rests with Congress.
“I think it will be an absolute shot in the arm that eastern North Carolina has never seen as far as the influx of dollars that would come in if we receive full federal recognition,” Britt said.
However, Britt also pointed to opposition from the Cherokee Indian Tribe, which has historically opposed Lumbee recognition and lobbied against it in Congress.
Despite these challenges, supporters remain optimistic that 2025 could be the year the Lumbee Tribe finally secures full federal recognition.
