Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren Faces Ethics Complaint and Removal

An unfolding legal drama has emerged within the Navajo Nation, as a special prosecutor calls for the removal of President Buu Nygren. The move comes after a detailed investigation into alleged misconduct within his administration.

Accusations of Nepotism and Misuse of Office

Kyle Nayback, an attorney from an Albuquerque-based firm with expertise in federal and tribal law, has filed an ethics complaint in the Navajo Nation District Court. This complaint accuses President Nygren of nepotism and misuse of office resources during the period from January 2023 to May 2025.

According to the complaint, Nygren allegedly misappropriated government funds for personal benefits, such as covering lodging and meal expenses for family members. It further claims that he concealed these expenses by misrepresenting his relatives as staff on official documents and falsifying travel records.

Allegations of Personal Use of Staff

The prosecutor’s report also states that Nygren directed at least one staff member to handle personal tasks, which included child care, cooking, cleaning, and managing his personal finances. The report advises that Nygren should forfeit his salary for up to a year, provide restitution, and face a five-year ban from holding public office.

With an election looming next year, the allegations have brought additional scrutiny to Nygren’s leadership.

Response to Investigation and ZenniHome Project

In August, Nayback was appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds in the now-defunct $24 million ZenniHome project. At the time, President Nygren expressed confidence in the integrity of his administration, stating, “we did nothing wrong.” However, his office has yet to respond to recent inquiries regarding the new allegations.

The ZenniHome project was intended to alleviate the housing shortage on Navajo land by producing 80 modular homes. Nevertheless, the project fell short, completing only 18 units before its LeChee facility near Page was closed, resulting in over 200 layoffs.