Alaska's Federal Workers Hit Hard by Cuts

0:00It's April 24th. Anchorage News Today starts now. AI-powered and ready. Federal workers in Alaska are getting hit hard by cuts straight out of Washington and it's messing with everyday life up there. The Environmental Protection Agency just canceled about $280 million in grants for water systems, energy projects, and community. Resilience. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs is down over 20% of its staff this year in 2025, leading to hiring freezes and shortages. These aren't just desk jobs. These folks are neighbors keeping rural water safe, monitoring pollution to protect fish stocks, and caring for the state's veterans who make up the highest percentage in the country. Alaska relies heavily on its land and water, so when federal support weakens, the whole state feels it fast. Communities are seeing real fallout. Projects the late are scrapped, putting public health at risk and wiping out jobs for local engineers, builders, and union tradespeople who need those paychecks. Veterans face

1:05longer weights and gaps in care, turning what should be reliable support into a struggle. Leaders like Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich haven't shown much urgency to fight back, letting the funding vanish and the workforce. Shrink. With midterms on the horizon, Alaskans are eyeing options for reps who prioritize the state. It's clear Alaska's spirit of looking out for each other demands action now. Investing in these workers is an extra. It's what keeps the last frontier. Strong.