Three high-ranking officials from the Trump administration are visiting Alaska this week to promote the president’s executive order impacting the state. However, critics argue that instead of pursuing genuine job creation and economic growth, the administration is taking steps that threaten Alaska’s economy and the wellbeing of its most vulnerable citizens.
Among recent controversial actions are the cancellations of key energy projects in the region. Last month alone, the Trump administration halted a $20 million wind project intended for Kotzebue and another $20 million set aside for electric generation in several communities within the Bering Straits region. Detractors say this is part of a larger pattern, suggesting that Trump has an agenda that biases energy production towards more expensive and polluting sources while undermining affordable renewable energy initiatives.
This climate has larger implications. The proposed budget reconciliation bill seeks to eliminate the Investment and Production Tax Credits, long-standing incentives that have facilitated energy development in Alaska. Critics, including Alaska U.S. Rep. Nick Begich—who cast a key vote supporting these cuts—warn that these changes would drastically hinder hydroelectric expansion and substantially drive up renewable energy costs. The hope now rests on the shoulders of Sen. Dan Sullivan to collaborate with Sen. Lisa Murkowski to support critical energy funding for Alaska.
On the health front, Trump’s proposed budget is set to shift an estimated $194 million in Medicaid costs from the federal government to the state level. Observers contend that this cost transfer won’t just strain Alaska’s budget but will also introduce significant bureaucratic hurdles that threaten to disenfranchise many eligible working Alaskans from receiving Medicaid coverage.
Additionally, the elimination of the Enhanced Premium Tax Credit is expected to impact roughly 23,000 Alaskans who rely on it to afford health insurance. Most of these individuals work for small businesses that struggle to offer affordable options, and without this assistance, many may be pushed out of the workforce. This could lead to an increase in uncompensated care, which would, in turn, drive up healthcare costs for those who still have insurance coverage.
The budget proposals also carry dire consequences for child nutrition in Alaska. Trump’s budget plans include cuts amounting to $68 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program that provides food security to children and low-income families. Currently, around 20,000 children in Alaska benefit from SNAP, which ensures they have access to necessary meals.
Critics contend the administration’s fiscal philosophy prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans over the fundamental needs of working families. Statistics show that individuals in the top 0.1% of income earners could receive tax cuts averaging $389,000, while the cost of securing food for one child in Alaska is just $3,366 per year. This stark contrast raises questions about federal priorities and the value placed on human life and dignified living.
In his criticism, Zack Fields, a member of the Alaska House of Representatives since 2019 and a representative for Downtown Anchorage, invoked religious principles, warning that voting for the budget proposal could have moral repercussions. He stated, “It will be easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle than it will be for working Alaskans to keep their health coverage, or for hungry children to fill empty stomachs.”
Fields further characterized Trump’s administration as a threat not just to Alaska’s economy but to the moral integrity of society, arguing that the proposed policies strike at the heart of values rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition and Western philosophical thought that emphasize the inalienable worth of every individual.
As the Trump administration promotes its agenda in Alaska, tension continues to grow over the potential long-term effects of current policy proposals on the state’s economy and its most vulnerable residents.
image source from：https://www.adn.com/opinions/2025/06/01/opinion-trump-programs-threaten-alaskas-economy-and-working-families/
