WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — A resolution introduced before the Navajo Nation Council on Thursday calls for the removal of President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya, alleging repeated violations of tribal law, misuse of authority, and failures of fiduciary responsibility — with the ZenniHome housing scandal cited among the key controversies fueling the recall effort.
The sweeping measure accuses both leaders of neglecting key duties outlined in the Navajo Nation Code, including failure to submit required reports, making unauthorized personnel decisions, and contributing to what the resolution describes as a “hostile and unsafe work environment.”
Council members say the proposal stems from months of frustration over missed reports, alleged nepotism, and contract disputes that have shaken confidence in the executive branch. The Naabik’íyáti’ Committee will first review the resolution before heading to the full Council, where a two-thirds vote would be required for removal.
The ZenniHome factor
Among the controversies cited by delegates is the collapse of ZenniHome, a modular housing manufacturer that shut down its factory in Le Chee earlier this year after receiving more than $24.9 million in Navajo Nation housing funds through a contract with Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture + ZenniHome.
The project—initially promoted as a flagship initiative to deliver hundreds of affordable homes “built on Navajo, by Navajo, for Navajo”—ended abruptly, with production halting after only 18 of 160 homes were completed.
Adding to the turmoil, the company’s Snowflake manufacturing facility suffered a major fire on July 28, 2025, just weeks before production was expected to expand. Fire crews responded late that evening after an earlier smaller blaze the same day; investigators have not yet determined whether the incidents were connected. No injuries were reported, but the damage further delayed operations and intensified scrutiny of ZenniHome’s leadership and financial management.
A special prosecutor was appointed in September to investigate how the Nation’s housing dollars were managed and whether procurement laws were followed. President Nygren has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, insisting that “no $24 million is missing” and that the project scope was reduced, not abandoned.
Still, the ZenniHome fallout—and the Snowflake fire—have become emblematic of broader concerns about transparency and executive oversight. Several local chapter and agency councils—including the Western Navajo Agency Council—passed no-confidence resolutions last month, citing ZenniHome as evidence of financial mismanagement within the administration.
Wider allegations
The resolution also references other alleged violations, including:
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Missed or incomplete State of the Navajo Nation Addresses on July 15, 2024; Oct. 21, 2024; April 21, 2025; and Oct. 20, 2025, which the president is required by law to deliver before the Council.
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Nepotistic hires, including relatives of senior officials, were allegedly appointed without proper qualifications.
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Public comments by Vice President Montoya about an ongoing ethics investigation, which sponsors say violated confidentiality and the trust of her office.
Proponents of the measure argue that together these issues demonstrate “a systemic breach of oath, duty, and trust owed to the Navajo people.”
Administration responds
In a series of statements, Nygren has rejected claims of corruption or missing funds, characterizing the campaign as politically motivated.
“There is no missing money. There is misinformation and an effort to divide our Nation,” he said in a July 31 statement regarding ZenniHome.
Montoya has not publicly commented on the latest resolution but previously told local media she remained “focused on service and progress for Navajo families.”
What happens next
If the Naabik’íyáti’ Committee advances the measure, the full Navajo Nation Council could vote on removal as early as December 2025. Under tribal law, a two-thirds majority is required to remove either the President or Vice President from office.
Should the resolution succeed, it would mark one of the most consequential leadership challenges in more than a decade—potentially removing both top executives simultaneously.
For now, the Nation’s political future may hinge on whether Council delegates view ZenniHome and other controversies as isolated missteps—or as symptoms of a more profound crisis in trust of Tribal governance.
