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Week of Jun 29
A new federal complaint line for Alaska's rural producers
Alaska farmers and ranchers fed up with federal enforcement have a new complaint portal — though in a state where Washington controls the land, it's a new ear, not a remedy.
by Melinda Communities.News4mo ago2 min read
Murkowski previously questioned the Qatari Air Force One; Trump has now flown it
Trump took his first flight on the Qatar-donated Air Force One this week — a gift Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was among the Republicans to question when it surfaced.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
Week of Jun 22
Trump's farm package, and what it actually means for Alaska
Trump signed farm orders and pitched $11B in crop relief. For Alaska — which imports ~95% of its food and exports mostly peonies — the stake is small but real.
by Alaska News4mo ago3 min read
Foreign-visitor park fee survives a House vote, with stakes for Alaska
A House panel kept a $100 surcharge on foreign park visitors — $400 for a family of four. Alaska's gateway towns, which live on summer tourists, are watching.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
A record year for federal research-fraud enforcement — and Alaska's stake in it
Washington recovered a record $6.8B in false-claims cases last year. Alaska's universities run on federal research money, and Begich is on the oversight panel.
by Melinda Communities.News4mo ago3 min read
Senate panel weighs Mark Cruz nomination to lead Indian Health Service
Senate Indian Affairs Committee held confirmation hearing for Mark Cruz, nominated to lead Indian Health Service. Murkowski signaled early support. Cruz pledged to prioritize tribal consultation and address workforce shortages and $8 billion construction backlog.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Week of Jun 15
Federal SNAP changes could put Alaska food aid and state budget under new pressure
Federal rules will expand work requirements for Alaska SNAP recipients and tie state costs to payment errors, potentially costing Alaska $42 million to $53 million annually starting in late 2027.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
A Senate vote on the federal lands maintenance fund has major Alaska stakes
The Senate is reauthorizing the fund that pays to fix trails and visitor centers across Alaska's federal lands. Murkowski's staff stayed up.
by Maggie AlaskaNews4mo ago3 min read
More from Outside Alaska
Week of Jun 8
Trump's announced $64 billion DHS funding would touch Alaska Coast Guard, Arctic security, and fentanyl interdiction — but the underlying bill isn't in primary federal records
Trump announced $64 billion in DHS funding that would affect Alaska's Coast Guard, Arctic security, and fentanyl interdiction, but the bill he cited does not yet appear in public federal records.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
The Air Force wants $7 billion for fighter recapitalization at Elmendorf — but Alaska's military investments are riding on a partisan bill senators don't think will pass
The Air Force requested $7 billion for fighter jets at Elmendorf-Richardson in its 2027 budget, but half the F-35 funding and other Alaska-critical spending is routed through a partisan bill that Republican and Democratic senators say will not pass.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
The Air Force wants a $338.8 billion budget — a 34% jump that includes a 130% Space Force boost that flows to Clear
Air Force seeks $338.8 billion for fiscal 2027, a 34 percent increase with Space Force funding up 130 percent. • Clear Space Force Station in interior Alaska could receive part of the $71.1 billion Space Force request. • Funding also targets facility upgrades at JBER and Eielson Air Force Base, addressing a $50 billion maintenance backlog.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
The federal autonomous vehicle framework Congress is debating would apply to Alaska's roads — but Alaska wasn't part of the conversation
Congress is debating a federal framework for autonomous trucks that will apply to Alaska's roads, but Alaska's operating conditions like Arctic weather, wildlife, and cellular dead zones were not part of the Senate hearing.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
The promotions Warren says Hegseth is blocking would fill leadership at Alaska's strategically critical installations
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked military promotions that fill command roles at Alaska installations. Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Hegseth of removing minority and female officers from the list. The delays affect leadership at JBER and Eielson. The Pentagon is reviewing officer ties to diversity policies.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Week of Jun 1
Murkowski and Sullivan split on DACA votes in Senate budget debate
Alaska senators Murkowski and Sullivan voted opposite ways on two DACA amendments during Senate budget debate Friday, with Murkowski supporting protections and application funding while Sullivan opposed both measures.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
Trump proposes federal AI equity stakes with public dividends
Trump proposed federal equity stakes in AI companies with public dividends, mirroring Alaska's Permanent Fund model since 1982. • Alaska's dividend fluctuates with oil markets and faces constant political pressure to redirect earnings. • Federal AI dividends would differ legally from Alaska's model, which rests on state-owned resource royalties, not private equity.
by Alaska News5mo ago2 min read
Senate passes immigration enforcement bill 52-47, splitting Alaska delegation
Three years of ICE funding, a fight over the 'weaponization' fund, and Alaska's senators split
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
About Outside Alaska
Outside Alaska covers places, institutions and events beyond the state's borders, from the Lower 48 to Washington, D.C. and other nations. These are matters that touch Alaska without being anchored in it.
Much of what happens Outside reaches Alaska through Congress, the White House and federal agencies, whose votes, confirmations, rules and funding decisions shape the state. Alaska's members of Congress vote on national questions such as nominations, artificial intelligence and voting rules, and federal agencies set terms for Native housing loans, Indian Health Service leadership and research grants.
Defense decisions made in Washington set the money for bases in Alaska. Global events such as oil price swings filter back into the state budget and household costs.
More from Outside Alaska
Trump invokes Defense Production Act; makes way for new Alaska coal plant
Trump invoked the Defense Production Act and is trying to push $89m to help build a coal plant in Alaska
by Cale Green5mo ago3 min read
Alaska VA tech rollout faces staffing questions ahead of October launch
Alaska's VA converts to a new electronic health record Oct. 24 as the VA's IT chief acknowledges the department has lost experienced workers since the administration took office.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
Senate panel hears testimony on bill to ban youth gender care
A U.S. Senate committee heard testimony May 21 on a proposed federal ban of gender transition care for minors, as Alaska's State Medical Board simultaneously pursues a draft regulation that would label such care negligent and risk provider licenses.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Week of May 25
State offers FAA two decades of free land at Allakaket Airport
Alaska DOT is offering the FAA 20 years of free land at Allakaket Airport for navigation equipment, locking out state revenue and limiting the village's ability to expand or reconfigure the runway through 2046.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago1 min read
House panel approves $580 billion transportation bill with rail safety provisions
House committee approved $580 billion five-year transportation bill with new rail safety rules. • Rail provisions require two-person crews, wayside defect detectors, and faster phase-out of older tank cars. • Bill funds $50 billion for bridges and $65 billion for rail over five years. • New fees on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids generate first Highway Trust Fund revenue since 1993.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 5mo ago2 min read
Week of May 18
Anchorage health facility secures federal approval for land transfer to expand services
Senate approved 3.37 acre land transfer to Southcentral Foundation to expand mental health services for Alaska Native people. • Committee advanced eight tribal land bills nationwide for housing and wildfire management. • Administration proposed major cuts to tribal services including 32 percent reduction to Indian Education bureau.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago2 min read
IHS proposes $93M sanitation cut as Alaska Native villages face sanitation gaps
Indian Health Service proposes cutting sanitation funding by 93 million dollars in Alaska Native villages that still use honey buckets. • Over 2,000 water and sanitation projects remain unfunded across Indian Country. • Senator Murkowski challenged the cut, saying sanitation prevents illness. • Congress rejected similar cuts last year and plans to fight again.
by Maggie AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
VA budget seeks $488 billion with 60,000 Alaska veterans facing shift toward private care
VA requests $488 billion budget, shifting $17 billion toward private care while holding VA facility funding flat, affecting 60,000 Alaska veterans. • VA lost 50,000 employees in 2025 and 2026, raising concerns about workforce and direct care. • Budget cuts appeals processing and oversight despite rising caseloads. • Includes $10.4 billion for infrastructure and health records modernization.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago3 min read
House Republicans examine $24.8M in federal attorney fees to environmental groups
House Republicans examined $24.8M in federal attorney fee awards to environmental nonprofits from 2019 to 2024. • Critics say uncapped fee-shifting laws let nonprofits bill at rates far above market rates, sometimes 700 percent markups. • Alaska mining, oil, and timber projects have faced years of litigation delays funded partly by taxpayer attorney fee awards.
by Walter AlaskaNews5mo ago4 min read
Homer posts conflicting times for Tuesday's council work session
Homer posted conflicting start times for Tuesday's City Council work session, listing 4:00 p.m. on one page and 5:30 p.m. on another, leaving residents unsure when to tune in.
by Alaska News5mo ago1 min read
