Why did the U.S. government sterilize thousands of Native American women in the 1970s? New Mexico is investigating

Fortune

by Savannah Peters, The Associated Press

February 21, 2026

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The U.S. government sterilized thousands of Native American women without their full consent during the 1970s, a practice that has left lasting scars on families and communities. Now, New Mexico is taking steps to investigate this dark chapter in history, with state legislators approving a measure to examine the scope, impact, and details of these forced sterilizations. The investigation, led by the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women, will report its findings to the governor by the end of 2027. This comes as other states, like Vermont and California, have also begun addressing similar injustices, with some offering reparations. The practice was part of a broader effort by the Indian Health Service (IHS) to control Native American populations, with records showing that at least 3,406 women were sterilized between 1973 and 1976. Many of these procedures occurred without proper consent or misled patients about their reversibility. Survivors like Jean Whitehorse, who was sterilized after being treated for a ruptured appendix, describe how this decision devastated their lives, leading to emotional and relational struggles. This issue highlights the intersection of race, gender, and systemic inequality in U.S. healthcare policies. Advocacy groups like Women of All Red Nations (WARN) have long fought to expose these practices, which were documented in a 1976 Government Accountability Office report. The lack of accountability for these atrocities has left many Native families seeking justice and healing. From a business and financial perspective, this investigation underscores the importance of ethical healthcare policies and the potential legal and financial implications of historical injustices. States like New Mexico, Vermont, and California are now grappling with how to address these wrongs, including through reparations and policy reforms. This issue also raises questions about the long-term impact of such practices on trust in public health systems

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/21/2026