---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 4418"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "4418"
heading: "Indian preference"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/4418"
units:
  - "Chapter 56 — American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Culture and Art Development"
  - "Subchapter I — American Indians and Alaska Natives"
---

# §4418. Indian preference

- (a) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law, the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3) is authorized to develop a policy or policies for the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3) to extend preference to [Indians](/usc/20/4402.md?p=4) in—
  - (1) admissions to, and enrollment in, programs conducted by the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3),
  - (2) employment by the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3), and
  - (3) contracts, fellowships, and grants awarded by the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3).
- (b) **Hiring preference—** In carrying out [section 4416(b)(1) of this title](/usc/20/4416.md?p=b-1), the President of the [Institute](/usc/20/4402.md?p=3) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, give preference in hiring to [Indians](/usc/20/4402.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 99–498, title XV, § 1511, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1607; Pub. L. 102–325, title XIII, § 1331(e), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 807.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–325 inserted “develop a policy or policies for the Institute to” after “is authorized to”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–325 effective Oct. 1, 1992, see section 2 of Pub. L. 102–325, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.