Both the bald and golden eagle are protected by federal law: the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA) prohibits the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of migratory birds, their eggs, parts, and nests except as authorized under a valid permit as outlined at 50 CFR 21.11 The MBTA authorizes and directs the Secretary of the Interior to determine if, and by what means, the hunting of migratory birds should be allowed, as well as to adopt and implement suitable regulations permitting and governing the hunting of any type of migratory bird (for example, hunting seasons for ducks and geese). The Eagle feather law is another name for the exemptions to this act that are sometimes granted to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes.
Both bald and golden eagles are protected by federal law, specifically the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), which prohibits taking, killing, possessing, transporting, or importing these birds, their eggs, parts, and nests unless authorized with a permit. The MBTA also allows the Secretary of the Interior to determine if and how hunting of migratory birds can be allowed, including setting hunting seasons for species like ducks and geese.  Additionally, there are exemptions to this act known as the Eagle feather law that sometimes grant permission to enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes.