The Osage Minerals Council has taken a firm stand against the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) proposal to terminate the lease for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Osage Agency Office in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The office plays a crucial role in managing oil and gas development within the Osage Mineral Estate, ensuring that the United States meets its treaty and trust obligations to Osage Headright Holders. The council has made it clear that it will challenge any action that threatens energy development in the region.
The council criticized the proposal as reckless, pointing out that it was made without an impact assessment, without a plan for displaced BIA employees, and without proper tribal consultation. They are now demanding that the Secretary of the Interior explain how shutting down the agency would improve oil and gas permitting rather than disrupting crucial operations.
Federal Policies at Odds With the Osage Closure
The proposal directly contradicts President Donald Trump’s Executive Order No. 14154, “Unleashing American Energy”, which aims to remove delays in federal permitting processes to encourage domestic energy development. It also goes against Department of the Interior Secretary Burgum’s Secretarial Order No. 3418, which directs the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs to reduce barriers to energy development rather than create new ones.
The Osage Mineral Estate is one of the longest-producing oil and gas reserves in the United States, with more than a century of continuous production. The 1906 Osage Allotment Act established federal oversight of the mineral estate, and regulations outlined in 25 C.F.R. Part 226 were specifically created to govern its management. The Osage Minerals Council and the Osage Agency work closely together to oversee energy development, permit approvals, operator access, and royalty distribution to Osage Annuitants.
Economic and Legal Consequences
If the DOGE proposal moves forward, it would severely undermine the U.S. government’s trust and treaty obligations, causing lasting economic harm to Osage Annuitants while yielding only minimal savings for the federal budget. The lease termination is currently set for September 30, 2025, but the Osage Minerals Council is preparing to take its fight to Washington, D.C. to challenge not only this decision but also other executive actions affecting energy development.
The closure is part of a broader federal cost-cutting initiative, which has led to the termination of approximately 750 federal land leases impacting various agencies. However, the abrupt nature of these lease terminations has already caused confusion among property owners and federal workers, with reports of incorrect lease cancellations and unexpected eviction notices creating additional chaos.
With the Osage Minerals Council standing firm, the coming months will determine whether the BIA Osage Agency Office remains open or whether this controversial proposal moves forward despite strong opposition.
