Arizona’s congressional delegation is pressing the Indian Health Service to halt a proposed consolidation that would eliminate the Tucson Area Office and fold its duties into the Phoenix Area Office until formal, meaningful consultation with affected tribes is completed. Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly, joined by Representative Adelita Grijalva, sent a letter to IHS leadership expressing alarm at a plan they say was announced as part of a broader agency realignment initiative. In their correspondence, sent today, the lawmakers urged an immediate suspension of implementation so that the agency can clarify the impact the consolidation would have on tribal nations in Southern Arizona.
The Tucson Area Office plays a central role in coordinating Indian health services for two tribes in the region, serving as the primary point of contact for nearly 28,000 patients from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation. Under a proposal originating with the Trump administration, the functions currently managed out of Tucson would be absorbed by the Phoenix Area Office. Lawmakers warned that such a change could force patients and staff to travel as much as two hours to reach administrative support or services now centered in Tucson, and that consolidation could put at risk specialized programs operated out of the Tucson office, including dedicated diabetes care services.
Lawmakers and tribal representatives hold a press conference in Tucson — a woman speaks at a podium as others stand behind her urging the Indian Health Service to pause plans to consolidate the Tucson Area Office.
In their letter, the members of Congress made clear their concern over the process and the potential consequences for access to care. “We write to express our serious concerns regarding the recently announced proposal to eliminate the Tucson Area Office by merging it with the Phoenix Area as part of the Indian Health Service’s broader realignment initiative,” they wrote, and they asked that the merger be suspended until the agency has clarified its likely effects on tribal nations and completed formal tribal consultation. The lawmakers specifically asked the IHS to explain how the decision was made and to demonstrate that the potential repercussions were fully considered before singling out Tucson for consolidation.
The delegation noted that Tucson is the only IHS area office currently slated for elimination under the restructuring plan, a distinction that prompted additional questions about the selection process. “It remains unclear how the Tucson Area Office, the only office that would be consolidated through this initiative, was selected for consolidation and whether the repercussions of this decision have been fully considered,” the letter states. Lawmakers emphasized that the narrowing of an area office footprint is not merely administrative; for tribal communities the location and accessibility of area offices can affect daily interactions with federal health administrators and the continuity of locally tailored programs.
A tribal representative addresses reporters at the Tucson event, calling for the IHS to halt the proposed office closure until affected tribes have been meaningfully consulted.
The congressional concerns echo objections previously raised by the Tohono O’odham Nation in a tribal consultation response submitted in February 2026. In pressing the IHS for more information, the lawmakers requested detailed answers by June 15 about the decision-making process behind the consolidation, the extent to which affected tribes were consulted prior to announcing the plan, and the agency’s plans to prevent disruptions in healthcare services should the consolidation move forward. The letter asked the agency to provide a clear explanation of what consultations occurred and to make transparent any criteria used to determine why the Tucson office was selected for consolidation when other area offices were not.
Beyond procedural questions, the members of Congress sought assurances about substantive protections for tribal health programs and governance. They asked IHS to explain “how your agency plans to ensure continued quality of care, support tribal self-determination and self-governance, and uphold its trust obligations to the tribes of Southern Arizona.” Those requests point to concerns that administrative reorganization could affect the agency’s ability to sustain programs that address specific health needs in the region, while also touching on broader obligations the federal government has to work with tribal governments in a manner that respects tribal authority and governance structures.
The exchange underscores a larger tension between federal agencies’ internal reorganizations and the obligation to consult with tribal nations when decisions will materially affect services to Indian Country. The lawmakers framed their request as a need for both clarity and compliance with consultation requirements, noting the special significance of maintaining access to services for tribal citizens who rely on the Tucson Area Office. They asked the IHS to pause any implementation while the requested information is provided and while meaningful, formal tribal consultation is completed.
The letter from Sens. Gallego and Kelly and Rep. Grijalva adds to a growing list of requests from tribal leaders and federal lawmakers seeking greater transparency and engagement from the Indian Health Service as it pursues broader realignment. The delegation’s deadline for a response — June 15 — sets a relatively near-term expectation for the agency to explain the rationale behind the proposed consolidation, to detail what consultation has already occurred, and to articulate specific steps it will take to avoid disrupting care for the nearly 28,000 patients in Southern Arizona who currently rely on services coordinated through the Tucson Area Office.