Senate Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Indian Country Public Safety Bill

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act (S. 390), a bipartisan measure designed to significantly strengthen public safety across Indian Country. The bill passed on December 11, 2025, reflecting a unified commitment to addressing critical law enforcement and safety challenges faced by Native American communities.

Key Provisions of the BADGES Act

The BADGES for Native Communities Act introduces several key provisions aimed at improving the infrastructure and resources available for public safety in tribal lands. These include:

• Supporting the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers.
• Bolstering federal resources dedicated to missing persons cases.
• Providing Tribes and states with enhanced tools to combat violence, particularly the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).
• Increasing Tribal access to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) through the establishment of Tribal facilitators.
• Requiring a comprehensive report detailing the specific needs of Tribal law enforcement.
• Allowing the BIA to conduct its own background checks for law enforcement officer applicants to streamline the hiring process.
• Establishing a grant program to facilitate coordination between states, Tribes, and Tribal organizations on cases involving missing and murdered persons and sexual assault.
• Ensuring BIA officers and Tribal police have access to culturally appropriate mental health and wellness programs.

Bipartisan Support and Sponsorship

The legislation garnered strong bipartisan support, with its introduction in the Senate led by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). A companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS).

Senator Cortez Masto emphasized the urgency of the bill, stating, 'It is past time to get this bipartisan legislation across the finish line to provide Tribes with the resources they need to protect their communities.' Senator Hoeven added that the bill 'gives Tribes critical tools to address staffing shortages,' which will 'enhance public safety within Tribal communities.'

Addressing a Critical Need

The passage of the BADGES Act comes in response to long-standing concerns about under-resourced law enforcement and the disproportionately high rates of violence and missing persons in Indian Country. Congresswoman Leger Fernández highlighted this, noting, 'Native American law enforcement has for too long been under-resourced and the results are clear—a crisis of missing and murdered persons when predators know they won't have to worry about the law coming after them.'

Next Steps

With unanimous passage in the Senate, the bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where proponents are urging swift action to send it to the President's desk for signature. Its enactment is anticipated to provide crucial support and resources to tribal communities across the United States, reinforcing efforts to ensure safety and justice.