The Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency’s plan to reduce the federal workforce has resulted in over 130 fired federal employees in Alaska filing for state unemployment benefits. The dismissed workers, including meteorologists, fishery scientists, and national park rangers, were told by the federal government that their skills were no longer needed, despite their specialized knowledge and experience. In addition, these employees were let go so abruptly that they failed to gather necessary paperwork needed to file for unemployment benefits. A legislative panel was informed by Paloma Harbour, Director of Alaska’s Employment and Training Services that there has been an increase in benefits application in recent weeks. Federal employment contributes significantly to Alaska’s economy and any reduction will have a stark impact.

Federal employment is crucial in Alaska due to higher than average wages and a significant workforce percentage. More than 15,000 Alaskans work for the federal government, exceeding the employment rates of other industries such as mining and natural resources. Since federal employment encompasses over 3% of the workforce in the state, it is feared that a reduction in federal jobs would significantly impact Alaska’s economy, disproportionately compared to other states. Alaska has continued to grapple with high job vacancy rates which have impacted state services over the years.

Fired federal employees have shared that their termination could cause them to leave Alaska entirely. Additionally, with vacant positions within the unemployment insurance office due to ongoing staffing challenges , there may be delays in determining eligibility for affected workers. They have also expressed grave concerns about the ability of state and private organizations to cover their abandoned roles in preserving the environment and managing fisheries.

For those former federal employees in Alaska looking to understand their unemployment benefits or seek job opportunities, it is recommended to reach out to offices such as the Employment Development Department (EDD). However, they often face difficulties in getting through to EDD due to high call volumes and limited staffing. This is where services like eddcaller.com can help. It aids users in learning how to get through to EDD, providing valuable information in navigating the unemployment process and making it easier to get ahold of EDD customer service.