diff --git a/src/registrar/forms/application_wizard.py b/src/registrar/forms/application_wizard.py
index c9f0c2976..6f08a692b 100644
--- a/src/registrar/forms/application_wizard.py
+++ b/src/registrar/forms/application_wizard.py
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ class RegistrarFormSet(forms.BaseFormSet):
         # (likely a client-side error or an attempt at data tampering)
 
         for db_obj, post_data in zip_longest(query, self.forms, fillvalue=None):
-
             cleaned = post_data.cleaned_data if post_data is not None else {}
 
             # matching database object exists, update it
@@ -177,9 +176,17 @@ class TribalGovernmentForm(RegistrarForm):
 
     def clean(self):
         """Needs to be either state or federally recognized."""
-        if not (self.cleaned_data["federally_recognized_tribe"] or
-                self.cleaned_data["state_recognized_tribe"]):
-            raise forms.ValidationError("Only tribes recognized by the U.S. federal government or by a U.S. state government are eligible for .gov domains.", code="invalid")
+        if not (
+            self.cleaned_data["federally_recognized_tribe"]
+            or self.cleaned_data["state_recognized_tribe"]
+        ):
+            raise forms.ValidationError(
+                "Only tribes recognized by the U.S. federal government or by a U.S."
+                " state government are eligible for .gov domains. Please email"
+                " registrar@dotgov.gov to tell us more about your tribe and why you"
+                " want a .gov domain.",
+                code="invalid",
+            )
 
 
 class OrganizationFederalForm(RegistrarForm):
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_forms.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_forms.py
index 2352714da..b021e559c 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_forms.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_forms.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from registrar.forms.application_wizard import (
     OtherContactsForm,
     SecurityEmailForm,
     RequirementsForm,
+    TribalGovernmentForm,
 )
 
 
@@ -150,3 +151,15 @@ class TestFormValidation(TestCase):
                 " registering and operating .gov domains."
             ],
         )
+
+    def test_tribal_government_unrecognized(self):
+        """Not state or federally recognized is an error."""
+        form = TribalGovernmentForm(
+            data={"state_recognized": False, "federally_recognized": False}
+        )
+        self.assertTrue(
+            any(
+                "Please email registrar@dotgov.gov" in error
+                for error in form.non_field_errors()
+            )
+        )
diff --git a/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py b/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
index 71fb3f155..76a93e064 100644
--- a/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/src/registrar/tests/test_views.py
@@ -743,23 +743,6 @@ class DomainApplicationTests(TestWithUser, WebTest):
 
     def test_application_tribal_government(self):
         """Tribal organizations have to answer an additional question."""
-        type_form = type_page.form
-        type_form[
-            "organization_type-organization_type"
-        ] = DomainApplication.OrganizationChoices.TRIBAL
-        self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
-        type_result = type_page.form.submit()
-        # the tribal government page comes immediately afterwards
-        self.assertIn("/tribal_government", type_result.headers["Location"])
-        # follow first redirect
-        self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
-        tribal_government_page = type_result.follow()
-
-        # and the step is on the sidebar list.
-        self.assertContains(tribal_government_page, self.TITLES[Step.TRIBAL_GOVERNMENT])
-
-    def test_application_tribal_explanation(self):
-        """Unrecognized tribes have to answer an additional question."""
         type_page = self.app.get(reverse("application:")).follow()
         # django-webtest does not handle cookie-based sessions well because it keeps
         # resetting the session key on each new request, thus destroying the concept
@@ -778,22 +761,8 @@ class DomainApplicationTests(TestWithUser, WebTest):
         self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
         tribal_government_page = type_result.follow()
 
-        # Enter a tribe name but don't check either state or federal recognition
-        tribal_government_page.form["tribal_government-tribe_name"] = "Tribe name"
-        self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
-        tribal_government_result = tribal_government_page.form.submit()
-
-        # should be a redirect to tribal_more_information
-        self.assertIn("/tribal_more_information", tribal_government_result.headers["Location"])
-        self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
-        tribal_more_information_page = tribal_government_result.follow()
-
-        # put an explanation and submit
-        tribal_more_information_page.form["tribal_more_information-more_organization_information"] = "Some explanation"
-        self.app.set_cookie(settings.SESSION_COOKIE_NAME, session_id)
-        result = tribal_more_information_page.form.submit()
-        # result should be a success
-        self.assertEqual(result.status_code, 200)
+        # and the step is on the sidebar list.
+        self.assertContains(tribal_government_page, self.TITLES[Step.TRIBAL_GOVERNMENT])
 
     def test_application_ao_dynamic_text(self):
         type_page = self.app.get(reverse("application:")).follow()
diff --git a/src/registrar/views/application.py b/src/registrar/views/application.py
index b9a675b61..401171842 100644
--- a/src/registrar/views/application.py
+++ b/src/registrar/views/application.py
@@ -94,9 +94,7 @@ class ApplicationWizard(LoginRequiredMixin, TemplateView):
         Step.ORGANIZATION_FEDERAL: lambda w: w.from_model(
             "show_organization_federal", False
         ),
-        Step.TRIBAL_GOVERNMENT: lambda w: w.from_model(
-            "show_tribal_government", False
-        ),
+        Step.TRIBAL_GOVERNMENT: lambda w: w.from_model("show_tribal_government", False),
         Step.ORGANIZATION_ELECTION: lambda w: w.from_model(
             "show_organization_election", False
         ),