Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/20-543_3e04.pdf
Page Number: 1.0

(Slip Opinion) 

OCTOBER  TERM,  2020 

1 

Syllabus 

NOTE:  Where  it  is  feasible,  a  syllabus  (headnote)  will  be  released,  as  is 
being  done  in  connection  with  this  case,  at  the  time  the  opinion  is  issued. 
The  syllabus  constitutes  no  part  of  the  opinion  of  the  Court  but  has  been 
prepared  by  the  Reporter  of  Decisions  for  the  convenience  of  the  reader. 
See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

Syllabus 

YELLEN, SECRETARY OF TREASURY v. 
CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE CHEHALIS 
RESERVATION ET AL. 

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR 
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT 

No. 20–543.  Argued April 19, 2021—Decided June 25, 2021* 

Title V of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES)
Act allocates $8 billion to “Tribal governments” to compensate for un-
budgeted  expenditures  made  in  response  to  COVID–19.  42  U. S. C. 
§801(a)(2)(B).  The question in these cases is whether Alaska Native 
Corporations (ANCs) are eligible to receive any of that $8 billion.  Un-
der the CARES Act, a “Tribal government” is the “recognized govern-
ing body of an Indian tribe” as defined in the Indian Self-Determina-
tion and Education Assistance Act (ISDA).  §§801(g)(5), (1).  ISDA, in 
turn, defines an “Indian tribe” as “any Indian tribe, band, nation, or 
other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native vil-
lage or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pur-
suant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act [(ANCSA),] which 
is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided
by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.”  25 
U. S. C. §5304(e).  

Consistent with the Department of the Interior’s longstanding view 
that ANCs are Indian tribes under ISDA, the Department of the Treas-
ury determined that ANCs are eligible for relief under Title V of the 
CARES  Act,  even  though  ANCs  are  not  “federally  recognized  tribes”
(i.e.,  tribes  with  which  the  United  States  has  entered  into  a  govern-
ment-to-government relationship).  A number of federally recognized 

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*Together  with  No.  20–544,  Alaska  Native  Village  Corp.  Association 
et al.  v.  Confederated  Tribes  of  the  Chehalis  Reservation  et al.,  also  on 
certiorari to the same court.