U.S. District Court of Appeals rules in favor of federally recognized tribes in CARES Act litigation

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.—The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently determined that Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) are not “tribal governments” under the CARES Act and are not eligible for CARES Act funds.

The Court’s ruling is a significant victory for the tribal plaintiffs, including the Navajo Nation. However, the defendants in the case are expected to petition for rehearing, or will seek to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“We thank the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today’s ruling, which supports the Navajo Nation’s position that the...