American Indians Have Shake Shack Moment in Virus Aid Fight

A group of American Indian tribes persuaded a judge to bar the Trump administration -- at least for now -- from doling out coronavirus relief money to for-profit tribal corporations in Alaska.

Congress allocated the money, part of the $2.2 trillion Cares Act stimulus package, for “tribal governments” to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Eighteen tribes sued to challenge Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin’s decision that native corporations in Alaska would also be eligible for the cash, arguing that aid should go to tribes with “dire needs” ahead of for-profit entities.

The split within the American Indian community over who’s most ...