Urban Leader Letters
August 25, 2026
The IHS Director writes to announce that the Office of Human Resources Division of Commissioned Personnel Support has created a new opportunity to advertise open positions at Tribal and Urban Indian health care facilities through the U.S. Public Health Service's (USPHS) Commissioned Corps vacancy announcement process. [PDF - 873 KB]August 24, 2026
As the 12th Indian Health Service Director, Mr. Mark Cruz writes to express his gratitude for the honor to serve as IHS Director and for the opportunity to continue working in partnership with Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to advance the Agency's mission. Director Cruz will also continue to serve as Senior Advisor to Secretary Kennedy, an unprecedented dual role that supports a coordinated approach to address Tribal and Urban Indian priorities, including those that extend beyond the IHS. [PDF - 1.8 MB]August 19, 2026
The IHS Chief Medical Officer writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share updates and resources that you may find useful in combatting the syphilis epidemic within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. [PDF - 237 KB]- Enclosure No. 1: IHS Recommended Guidelines for Syphilis Testing, Treatment, and Prevention [PDF - 133 KB]
- Enclosure No. 2: IHS Sexually Transmitted Infection Resources [PDF - 131 KB]
July 13, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer to request your feedback and recommendations regarding the use of approximately $70 million in Special Diabetes Program for Indians funding available for diabetes treatment and prevention activities. [PDF - 226 KB]July 9, 2026
The IHS Deputy Director for Management Operations writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to request your assistance in identifying priority health professions for inclusion into categories eligible for the IHS Scholarship Program in academic year 2027-2028 and the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) in fiscal year (FY) 2027. [PDF - 199 KB]- Enclosure: Academic Year 2027-2028 Scholarship Program Survey. [PDF - 113 KB]
- Enclosure: Fiscal Year 2027 Loan Repayment Program Survey. [PDF - 113 KB]
May 21, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share important news regarding the fiscal year 2026 funding for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians. [PDF - 133 KB]April 16, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce the release of the IHS Phase II Action Plan to address the systemic conditions underlying the Government Accountability Office's high-risk designation. [PDF - 178 KB]January 29, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share important news regarding the launch of an unprecedented Agency-wide hiring initiative vital to filling mission-critical health care positions at IHS facilities. [PDF - 156 KB]January 27, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce an extension of the comment submission deadline for the Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer on the IHS Proposed Realignment until February 27, 2026. [PDF - 235 KB]January 26, 2026
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer and announce newly scheduled Calendar Year 2026 IHS Health Information Technology (HIT) Modernization Program information sessions. [PDF - 252 KB]- Enclosure: IHS Calendar Year 2026 Health Information Technology Modernization Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Sessions [PDF - 100 KB]
December 18, 2025
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to announce the list of eligible degree programs for the Indian Health Service Scholarship Program in Academic Year 2026-2027. [PDF - 128 KB]December 5, 2025
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce an expanded schedule of Tribal Consultations and Urban Confer to seek your engagement on the proposed IHS realignment. [PDF - 311 KB]- Enclosure 1: Executive Narrative [PDF - 125 KB]
- Enclosure 2: Draft Re-org Chart [PDF - 674 KB]
- Enclosure 3: Frequently Asked Questions [PDF - 138 KB]
December 2, 2025
The IHS Chief of Staff writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has delegated to him, in his capacity as Chief of Staff, all delegable authorities, duties, and functions of the IHS Director. This delegation will remain in place while the IHS Director position continues to be vacant. [PDF - 168 KB]November 13, 2025
The IHS Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer to seek your recommendations on the next phase of the proposed IHS realignment. [PDF - 188 KB]October 1, 2025
The IHS Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share information regarding the current status of fiscal year 2026 appropriations for the Indian Health Service. [PDF - 186 KB]