Press ReleaseNational Defense Authorization Bill Heads to President Trump’s Desk for Signing; Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Celebrates Overdue Justice for the Lumbee People

Press Release

National Defense Authorization Bill Heads to President Trump’s Desk for Signing; Lumbee Tribe of N.C. Celebrates Overdue Justice for the Lumbee People

Pembroke, NC (December 17, 2025) – The 77 to 20 Senate vote passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) brought screams as well as tears by hundreds of Lumbee Citizens at the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club. In the U.S. Senate Gallery, time stood still as Lumbee Tribal Chairman Lowery watched in awe, as the final votes were called out on the Senate floor. “I know with every fiber of my being that our ancestors are smiling down on us today,” said Lowery. “After decades of waiting, praying, and fighting, our Tribe has finally crossed a barrier that once seemed impossible to overcome. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for every person who poured their soul into making this Senate passage a reality, especially Senator Tillis, who courageously laid it all on the line to ensure our bill was attached to the NDAA. God is so good. Today, I am filled with overwhelming joy, humility, and gratitude, knowing the countless sacrifices, tears, and unwavering faith that brought us to this sacred moment in our history.”

Over a two-day period, more than one thousand Lumbee citizens and community members waited patiently at the Pembroke Boys & Girls Club to hear the final Senate vote of the NDAA. Several hours wasn’t long for a tribe who has sought Federal Recognition for more than a century. The passage means justice for the tribal citizens who were often treated as second-class citizens after the government recognized the Lumbee Tribe in 1956, but without benefits. The Federal Recognition designation is an acknowledgement of a government-to-government relationship between a Native nation and the United States government. It also will offer the Lumbee Tribe access to resources that support health, education, and economic opportunity.

Lumbee Tribal Council Speaker Alex Baker said with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, the United States has fulfilled a promise long owed. “Today, the Lumbee Tribe becomes the 575th federally recognized Tribe in the nation,” said Baker. “This moment is the result of more than a century of perseverance, petitions, testimonies, and answered prayers. Today, we honor our ancestors who carried our identity through generations without federal acknowledgment.”

Now the legislation will move to President Trump’s desk for his signature.