As previously reported, Carter Ledyard attorney Alison Dreizen served as co-counsel representing the American Historical Association in State of Washington et. al. v. Russell Vought et al. as lead plaintiffs opposing the sale of the National Archives building in Seattle by the Federal government. On April 8, the Office of Management and Budget withdrew its approval of the sale stating that “the process that led to the decision to approve the sale of the Federal Archives and Records Center” was contrary to the Biden Administration’s tribal consultation policy.
More than 20 tribes located in the Pacific Northwest joined as co-plaintiffs to safeguard the appropriate administrative process and to make clear why the sale of the building would be so damaging to them. Subsequently, the National Archives and Records Administration posted a policy on its website mandating tribal consultation when tribal interests are implicated in a NARA decision.