No. 20-543October Term 2020Decided Jul 28, 2021
Yellen v. Confederated Tribes of Chehalis Reservation
This case asked whether Alaska Native regional and village corporations could share in the CARES Act money Congress set aside for "Tribal governments" to cover COVID-19 costs.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jul 28, 2021
- What it's about
This case asked whether Alaska Native regional and village corporations could share in the CARES Act money Congress set aside for "Tribal governments" to cover COVID-19 costs. The Supreme Court held that these corporations count as "Indian tribes" under the statute Congress incorporated, so they are eligible for that funding.
Question presented
Whether Alaska Native regional and village corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act are “Indian Tribe[s]” for purposes of the CARES Act, 42 U.S.C. 801(g)(1).
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Jul 28, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided July 28, 2021
The Court released its decision on July 28, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology