Navajo Council Moves to Remove Nation President and Vice President

Speaker Crystalyne Curley brought forward legislation on November 21 and 22, 2025 that seeks to initiate formal removal proceedings against President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya. The measure invokes Navajo statutory authority for removal and follows an ethics complaint filed by the Special Prosecutor that alleges malfeasance, misfeasance, and breaches of fiduciary duty. According to the Speaker’s release, numerous chapters and members of the Nation requested action and the Council is acting on its duty to protect public funds and ensure accountability.

The legislation sets in motion a process under Navajo law that places the question of executive removal squarely before the Navajo Nation Council. The release describes the measure as reflecting broad concern among chapters and Council delegates and invites public comment through the Council’s Office of Legislative Services. For local residents in McKinley County the development is immediately consequential because the Navajo Nation government oversees services and programs that intersect daily life in the county, including health, education, infrastructure, and chapter governance.

Uncertainty about executive leadership can slow decision making on contracts and collaborative projects involving county, state, and federal partners. McKinley County officials and tribal chapters may face delays in approvals for capital projects, adjustments to intergovernmental agreements, and sequencing of programs that rely on executive direction. Chapter representatives who asked the Council to act on these allegations did so in a governance framework where accountability of elected leaders is a communal priority.

The episode also highlights the Navajo Nation’s status as a sovereign government with its own legal mechanisms for internal oversight. Removal proceedings under Navajo statute demonstrate that tribal institutions have processes distinct from state or federal systems to address ethical and fiduciary concerns. Observers beyond the region will watch how the Council balances local calls for accountability with the need for institutional stability that supports service delivery and intergovernmental cooperation.

Next steps will include Council deliberations and a public comment period managed by the Office of Legislative Services. Local residents and chapter members who rely on tribal programs may seek information from their chapter offices and from the Navajo Nation Council about timelines and potential impacts. As proceedings unfold residents in McKinley County should expect communication from tribal and county offices about any immediate effects on shared services and scheduled projects.