The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), one of the oldest bureaus in the Federal government, was administratively established by Secretary of War John C. Calhoun on March 11, 1824, as an agency within the War Department to oversee and carry out the Federal government's trade and treaty relations with the tribes. Congress gave the BIA statutory authority by the act of July 9, 1832 (4 Stat. 564, chap. 174).

The BIA was originally created to manage the affairs of the tribes in fulfillment of the Federal Government's self-determined role as having power over Indian affairs. The BIA mission has changed dramatically over time from the direct provider of services to that of technical specialist working with tribal managers in protecting and managing trust resources.