Amid cutbacks, President Barack Obama is requesting to decrease the allocation to Indian Affairs by nearly $120 million in his proposed 2012 fiscal year budget.

However, Obama’s budget proposal, which was released Monday, also includes significant increases allocated to tribal programs in a proposed Strengthening Tribal Nations initiative.

In Obama’s plan, Indian Affairs – which includes the BIA and the Bureau of Indian Education – would get 2.5 billion, a decrease of $118.9 million from the previous levels, according to the Department of Interior.

Interior officials say the cuts come mostly from the elimination of one-time tribal college funding and the completion of construction projects. Still, officials noted that other tough cuts needed to be made.

“The president’s budget request for Indian Affairs recognizes the need to uphold our responsibilities to Indian Country,” said Larry Echo Hawk, assistant secretary of Indian Affairs, in a statement. “By making these tough choices now, we can continue to make the vital investments needed to sustain economic growth and recovery in Indian Country while maintaining our core functions.”

Funding reductions for tribes come from the completion of several construction and loan programs. They would also come from real estate projects. Outright program eliminations would include some community development training and a residential education placement program.

In his proposed Strengthening Tribal Nations initiative, Obama would allocate $89.6 million to improve conditions in Indian Country particularly in law enforcement, energy development, land management and education.

Specifically, the proposed initiative would increase funding in four areas: $42.3 million to help advance nation-to-nation relationships; $20 million to protect Indian Country; $18.4 million to improve trust land management; and $8.9 million to help advance Indian education.

The increases seek to help tribes run viable tribal governments, increase capacity to fight crime, protect natural resources and implement environmental management in Indian schools, according to Obama’s plan.

For example, Obama is asking for funds to operate new detention centers constructed with stimulus funds, while increasing funds for tribal courts and to hire more tribal police officers.

Obama’s proposal is just that. The budget plan is likely to face months of scrutiny as both houses of the legislature seek to make their own changes before final approval.

Obama’s administration also reported that the Indian Health Service is seeking to increase its budget by $589 million, according to the federal department of Health and Human Services.

In a statement issued today, the White House said that the increase in IHS funding supports Obama’s commitment to “implement the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act by (both) continuing existing and implementing new IHCIA provisions.”

The Department of Justice is also seeking $500,000 to create a sexual assault clearinghouse for tribes to provide onsite training and assistance to improve response times as well as treatment at the community level.

This would be in addition to a $1 million request to conduct research on the issue of violence against Native American women, according to the department.

Overall, Obama’s proposed budget would provide an increase of $424 million for criminal justice programs involving tribal areas.

For more information on Obama’s proposed budget for Indian Affairs: http://www.bia.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/text/idc013114.pdf; http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet/standing-with-indian-country.