Osage Agency Superintendent Adam Trumbly’s first day back at work was met with applause.
After the opening prayer, Osage Minerals Council Chairman Myron Red Eagle announced he was informed on March 17 that Adam Trumbly was back at his desk.
Trumbly told Osage News through a series of text messages that last week, the Regional Director Eddie Streater informed him he could have his job back.
“The Regional Director relayed the good news and I coordinated my return with multiple people,” Trumbly said in a text message to Osage News.
Trumbly said his return to the office was negotiated last week and was a series of conversations.
A federal judge ordered the Trump Administration to rehire thousands of workers who were laid off as part of a purge of government employees who were on probation. Trumbly and others who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies were caught up in the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) efforts to gut the federal government.
Trumbly said he hasn’t heard anything about future plans for the Osage Agency. Last month, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources released a list of BIA agencies set to close once their lease expires. The Osage Agency in Pawhuska is on that list as well as three other agencies in Oklahoma. The lease for the agency is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025.
Trumbly said he hopes to be back for good. When asked about back pay, he told Osage News that he hasn’t had a chance to visit with Human Resources just yet.
He spent his first day back catching up on matters and attending the regular Minerals Council meeting.
Cammi Canady gave the oil and gas production and revenues report. Canady was the acting superintendent while Trumbly had been laid off.
During the last OMC meeting on March 7, one item on the agenda was passing a resolution to reinstate Trumbly. Rollie Wilson, the OMC’s legal counsel had drafted a letter to be sent to the administration.
New OMC Business
At the beginning of the meeting, OMC Chairman Myron Red Eagle said the council was planning a trip to Washington D.C. to meet with the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. He said they were also told by Wilson they have a good chance of meeting with Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The Council is also planning on meeting with Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas and Senator James Lankford.
One big item of discussion was the treasurer’s report. Clark Batson was on the agenda to deliver a report on the balance of what funds are on hand. However, he was not present and did not give the report.
Councilman Talee Redcorn said he would like to have another discussion about the Council having their own treasurer. Councilman Paul Revard said he talked with Batson at the recent Osage Nation Sovereignty breakfast about having the report accessible to the council.
The Minerals Council discussed a new resolution to return headrights. On the agenda was Resolution 5-214 sponsored by Councilwoman Stephanie Erwin and Councilman Revard. However, the item was discussed in executive session.
But, after coming out of executive session, Erwin made a motion to rescind that motion. Revard said he wants to start from scratch and would like to rewrite any proposed legislation that would make it possible to receive headrights that have left Osage individual’s accounts. Red Eagle said that when they started talking about headright return in 2018, they talked about having town halls.
“Are we going to have some more town halls,” asked Red Eagle. When the call for the vote came, Red Eagle abstained from voting. The motion passed and the resolution for return of headrights was rescinded.
