Federal
RSSAlaska News covers federal policy, regulations, and spending decisions affecting Alaska, from Medicaid and food aid to military installations.
The Greenland defense deal cites Golden Dome, the missile shield already anchored in Alaska
The U.S.-Greenland defense deal cites Golden Dome, a missile shield Congress funded but can't get spending details on. Its Senate sponsor is Dan Sullivan.
by Melinda Communities.News4d ago2 min read
FDA nominee Overton commits to Alaska food inspections and salmon labeling but not mifepristone access
Trump's FDA pick told Murkowski yes on Alaska food inspectors and salmon labels. On mailing abortion pills to rural Alaska, she made no promises.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read
Murkowski cosponsors bill to keep Temporary Protected Status for Ukrainians in the US
Murkowski is cosponsoring a bill to keep Ukrainians' protected status. USCIS says it ends Oct. 19; a federal deadline that passed in August may say otherwise.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read
Senate panel told it must rewrite the nuclear waste law before disposal sites can proceed
Six states have signed up to host nuclear waste. The $51 billion meant to pay for it may already be spent, the committee chair said out loud.
by Walter AlaskaNews5d ago2 min read
Alaska's universities fall outside parts of an advancing college sports bill
A college sports bill is moving in the Senate with both Alaska senators behind it. UAA and UAF play Division II, so only some of it would reach them.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago1 min read
Murkowski cosponsors Senate resolution backing Russian democracy advocates
The Senate wants to back Russian democracy activists. Russian law gives those very activists up to six years in prison for accepting the help.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Sullivan diesel-derate bill advances Senate committee 10-9
A Senate panel advanced Sullivan's diesel-derate bill 10-9. It mandates cold-weather relief while EPA separately considers broader changes.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
The Senate blocked federal crypto rules. Alaska already wrote its own
The Senate blocked the first federal crypto rules, with both Alaska senators voting to advance them. Alaska wrote its own kiosk law in July anyway.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
The program mapping Alaska's subsurface runs out at the end of the year
The federal program that nearly doubled Alaska's public geologic data expires this year. The bill to extend it is one of 25 in a committee with no vote set.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read
Senate panel will take up Native housing bill co-sponsored by both Alaska senators
The law that funds housing in Alaska Native villages is up for renewal. Overcrowding there runs about double the rate on tribal lands nationally.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
A bill would guarantee vehicle access for the village inside Gates of the Arctic
A national park was drawn around Anaktuvuk Pass in 1980 without asking. A bill would guarantee the village the right to drive out and go hunting.
by Walter AlaskaNewsadded 1w ago2 min read
An Anchorage firm maintains nine Florida federal buildings on a $25 million GSA deal
An Anchorage contractor won a $23,553 federal contract to fix a rusted floor and fire alarm at a Jacksonville courthouse, part of a nationwide backlog of $8.3 billion in delinquent repairs.
by Alaska News4w ago1 min read
Supreme Court lets Trump's mail-voting order advance, but Alaska's rules are unchanged for now
The Supreme Court let Trump's mail-voting order advance but didn't rule it legal. Alaska's voting is unchanged for now; a separate order blocks the key piece.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
A Chamber endorsement for Begich, labor's backing for Hill
Nick Begich's campaign says he's won the U.S. Chamber's endorsement, days after Speaker Johnson visited; challenger Bill Hill has the state AFL-CIO's backing.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Sullivan joins a national fight to strip California of its power to set tougher emissions rules
Sullivan has joined a national push to strip California of its power to set tougher emissions rules — a fight reaching 17 states, and one courts may decide.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
The Senate failed to advance a national voter photo-ID bill — and Alaska's ID rules are looser than most
The Senate fell short on a federal voter photo-ID bill Saturday, both Alaska senators for it — in a state where a hunting license still lets you vote.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11; Murkowski and Sullivan vote yes
Senate passes Russia sanctions bill 86-11 with Murkowski and Sullivan voting yes, clearing the way for tariffs up to 500% on Russian goods and targeting energy sales to China and India.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Sullivan files resolution to overturn EPA decision on California at-berth ship emissions
Sullivan filed a resolution to block California's at-berth ship emissions rule — one that could limit the state's power to set tougher emissions rules.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Murkowski presses Interior on who's paying for Trump's Smithsonian signs
Sens. Murkowski and Merkley are pressing Interior on who's paying for Park Service signs, ordered by Trump, that would criticize a Smithsonian museum's own exhibits.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Sullivan plans to add an ad-transparency bill to kids' safety package
Sullivan plans to attach his ad-transparency bill — platforms would report on public-service ads and promote mental health help — to a kids' safety package.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Senate panel advances Crow coal land swap 6-5, rejects four amendments
Senate panel voted 6-5 to advance a Montana coal land swap giving the Crow Tribe mineral rights in exchange for federal parcels, but skipping environmental review.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Murkowski and Sullivan vote to advance an African trade bill
The Senate voted 89-4 Monday to advance a bill extending African trade benefits, with Alaska senators Murkowski and Sullivan both supporting it.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
A federal tax break for K-12 teachers may finally reach Alaska's preschool teachers
A federal bill would give Alaska's underpaid preschool and daycare teachers the same supply tax break K-12 teachers get. Both Alaska senators backed it.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
The water rights Alaska Natives can't claim
Murkowski chairs Wednesday's hearing on five tribal water settlements, none in Alaska. ANCSA extinguished the rights that make such deals possible for Alaska Natives.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Why the fight over the Strait of Hormuz shows up in Alaska's budget
The fight over the Strait of Hormuz sets the price of oil — and Alaska's budget moves with it. Talks continue; tanker owners still don't know who pays.
by Alaska News2mo ago2 min read
The CDC director vote is waiting on Lisa Murkowski
The Senate health committee couldn't vote on the next CDC director Thursday — Lisa Murkowski was out on a family emergency, and without her the votes weren't there.
by Alaska News2mo ago1 min read
Alaska science runs on NSF money, and the money has slowed
NSF has awarded 55% fewer grants than at this point in 2024 — a problem for a state whose Arctic research, and its new $160 million minerals engine, run on NSF money.
by Melinda Communities.News2mo ago2 min read
Rural birth and nursing bills clear a Senate panel
A Senate panel advanced rural nursing and obstetrics bills — the kind that matter in a state where women fly to Anchorage a month before giving birth.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
House panel advances bill to let Alaska Native artists sell work with feathers
A Tlingit artist was made to strip the feathers off his own work and hand them to federal agents. A House committee just advanced the bill named for him.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
VA research is losing staff and trials as Senate panel presses on $43M cut
No state has more veterans per capita than Alaska, which makes a Senate fight over VA research cuts a fight about roughly 1 in 10 Alaskans.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A permitting bill could open the federal fast lane to Alaska projects
A bill would drop the federal fast-track permitting threshold to $50 million — opening the program to Alaska projects too small to qualify until now.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago2 min read
A cattle parasite Alaska will never see could still cost Alaskans
Screwworm can't survive an Alaska winter, but Alaskans buy beef from the herds it threatens — and we're last in line on price.
by Maggie AlaskaNewsadded 2mo ago1 min read
Matt Schultz suspends U.S. House campaign, backs Bill Hill
Matt Schultz suspended his U.S. House campaign Friday and endorsed Bill Hill to focus on defeating Nick Begich in August.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Democrats challenge Sonderling on overtime rollbacks, education transfers at HELP hearing
Senate Democrats challenged Keith Sonderling's nomination as Labor secretary over his rollback of overtime protections for millions of workers and his transfer of education programs to his department.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
A Washington pharmacy fight could hit Alaska's military families hardest
Alaska is full of military families on TRICARE — and a D.C. fight over its pharmacy contract could hit here hardest, where losing a local pharmacy means a plane ride or unreliable mail-order meds.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
U.S. Senate stalls defense bill, freezing $2.6B for Alaska
The Senate blocked its defense bill — and $2.6B in Alaska military work with it — over the Iran war and Pentagon spending. Both AK senators voted yes.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min read
Begich votes to prohibit separate credit-card codes for gun stores
Begich helped pass a bill barring card networks from tagging gun-store purchases with a firearms-only code. In gun-heavy Alaska, that's a lot of receipts.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
EPA moves to stop Alaska's cold from shutting down diesel engines
Alaska cold can freeze a diesel's emissions fluid and cut its power mid-job. EPA wants to stop the shutdowns before someone's stranded at 40 below.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Sullivan backs a contested Trump border judge; Murkowski doesn't vote
Sullivan voted to confirm a Trump judge for a Texas border court — one who wouldn't say under oath that Biden won 2020. Murkowski didn't vote, and hasn't said why.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
Sen. Lindsey Graham dies; Alaska's senators mourn a colleague
Sen. Lindsey Graham has died suddenly, and Alaska's Murkowski and Sullivan — who served alongside him for years — are among those mourning a prominent Senate Republican.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read
