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$6.6 million of the Navajo Relief Fund remains unspent

In May 2020, the Navajo Nation COVID-19 Relief Fund was established to help the tribe respond to the pandemic. 

The fund has since raised $10.7 million, but the Navajo Nation Council recently found that more than half of that money remains unspent.

About $6.6 million of the fund remains unspent, despite multiple plans to allocate money to different tribal departments and services.

Some officials are questioning how the dollars have been disbursed, including $1.9 million for “contractual services” with little information on who received the contracts and how they were rewarded.

One council member suggested an independent investigation into how funds have been used, and why other funds have not been used.

Council Speaker Seth Damon told the Navajo Times that the council would look into the matter and seek advice on next steps.

Vaughan Jones was a reporter at KJZZ from 2020 to 2022.