Gov. Dannel Malloy has written to the president to take issue with proposed changes to the process for granting federal recognition to American Indian tribes.

Malloy says in a letter delivered Monday to President Barack Obama that the proposals as written would unfairly affect the state of Connecticut because of criteria that would appear to benefit three tribes that already have lost bids for recognition.

He said consequences of approval for those tribes would be “devastating” because they have pending claims to vast areas of fully developed land.

The state’s entire Congressional delegation has also expressed opposition to the rules lawmakers say would water down requirements for recognition.

The new rules were proposed in June by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which invited public comment at hearings around the country.