---
kind: "section"
citation: "25 U.S.C. § 5903"
title: "25"
title_heading: "Indians"
number: "5903"
heading: "Establishment of Realty Ombudsman position"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/5903"
units:
  - "Chapter 51 — Tribal Trust Land Homeownership"
---

# §5903. Establishment of Realty Ombudsman position

- (a) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/25/5901.md?p=3) shall establish within the Division of Real Estate Services of the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2) the position of Realty Ombudsman, who shall report directly to the [Secretary](/usc/25/5130.md?p=1) of the Interior.
- (b) **Functions—** The Realty Ombudsman shall—
  - (1) ensure that the [applicable Bureau offices](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) are meeting the mortgage review and processing deadlines established by [section 5902(a) of this title](/usc/25/5902.md?p=a);
  - (2) ensure that the [applicable Bureau offices](/usc/25/5901.md?p=1) comply with the notices required under subsections (a) and (b) of [section 5902 of this title](/usc/25/5902.md);
  - (3) serve as a liaison to other Federal agencies, including by—
    - (A) ensuring the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2) is responsive to all of the inquiries from the [relevant Federal agencies](/usc/25/5901.md?p=9); and
    - (B) helping to facilitate communications between the [relevant Federal agencies](/usc/25/5901.md?p=9) and the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2) on matters relating to mortgages on [Indian land](/usc/25/5901.md?p=5);
  - (4) receive inquiries, questions, and complaints directly from [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2), members of [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2), and lenders in regard to executed residential [leasehold mortgages](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), business [leasehold mortgages](/usc/25/5901.md?p=7), [land mortgages](/usc/25/5901.md?p=6), or [right-of-way documents](/usc/25/5901.md?p=10); and
  - (5) serve as the intermediary between the [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2), members of [Indian Tribes](/usc/25/5130.md?p=2), and lenders and the [Bureau](/usc/25/5901.md?p=2) in responding to inquiries and questions and resolving complaints.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 119–88, § 4, May 4, 2026, 140 Stat. 816.)