The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently fired more than 130 federal employees in Alaska as part of its efforts to reduce the size of the federal workforce. The fired employees included meteorologists, fishery scientists, and national park rangers among others. Alaska’s Employment and Training Services Director, Paloma Harbour, revealed that the state has seen an increase in unemployment benefit applications from federal workers, pointing out that the current figures could be underreported due to the abrupt dismissal of these employees. The administration’s layoffs were attributed to a restructuring process and not to professional misconduct. Many of the fired employees expressed their will to return to their jobs, while others indicated their likelihood of leaving Alaska following their termination.

However, the state encounters staffing issues with roughly 51 vacant positions across its unemployment insurance offices. Concerns are rising about the potential delays in verifying the eligibility of the affected workers for unemployment benefits. Additionally, the layoffs pose significant risks to Alaska’s economy and environment. The absence of these professional workers could harm facilities such as Alaska’s national parks and might disrupt crucial data collection needed for fishery regulations.

It’s important to note for the laid-off employees that contacting the unemployment office as soon as possible with all required documents would help expedite their claims. The fastest way to get through to edd is by utilizing online resources such as eddcaller.com, which provides useful information and guidance for those trying to navigate the unemployment benefits application process.