Federal Actions: Alaska Impacts

Tracking changes in the federal government.

The Trump Administration has promised many changes to the federal government, the first of which has been dozens of executive orders covering a wide range of issues that include nonprofits and tribes in their scope. The implications of the executive orders vary greatly, from immediately taking effect to being challenged in court. Staying abreast of executive orders, directives, new laws, and their related actions is crucial for ensuring you are aware of potential hurdles to your work.

We recognize that misinformation and confusion will be present in this rapidly changing environment. We will endeavor not only to place trusted sources of information on this site but also to update it as new and verifiable information becomes available.

We also recognize that people coming to this page will have differing perspectives. Foraker is nonpartisan. We encourage everyone to take the information here back to your organization, carefully consider it, and then use it in a way that is appropriate in your decision-making.

No information on this page should be considered legal advice.

Federal Government Shutdown — What Nonprofits Should Know

Once again, the federal government is in a partial shutdown. As it did in the 2018 shutdown, this one will have immediate and long-term impacts on Alaska nonprofits and the people we serve. That’s because many of our nonprofits will see an increased demand for services while experiencing decreased funding.

Previous shutdowns proved in too many ways that nonprofits will once again be called upon to provide a safety net for individuals who are without a paycheck.

If you serve on a nonprofit board or lead a nonprofit staff, and you’re not sure what to do, our colleagues at the National Council of Nonprofits have prepared this helpful checklist. As we receive additional information that will help nonprofits navigate this challenging time, we will post it here.

Let us know the impacts this shutdown is having on the people and communities you serve. You can also use our Real Time Consequences form to help us collect the stories and effects of a government shutdown in Alaska.

Resources from various agencies and entities on managing the challenges of the shutdown: 

Federal Funding Freezes Challenge Alaska Nonprofits

The funding freezes could affect the billions of dollars Alaska receives each year from the federal government, including funds directly to nonprofits and tribes and funds to the state that are then passed through to nonprofits.

According to research Foraker has conducted in partnership with the University of Alaska Anchorage Center for Economic Development, the latest available data shows that Alaska received $38 billion in federal grants in 2023. This is in addition to funding from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and remaining federal pandemic relief funds. Each of the projects within these funds is being reviewed for compliance with the executive orders before they can commence.

Nonprofit Nonpartisanship Under Threat

A long-held core value of the charitable nonprofit sector – nonprofit nonpartisanship – is again being threatened by the federal government. On July 7, the Internal Revenue Service, in a federal court filing, reversed nearly 70 years of legal precedent, saying that “churches and other houses of worship” can endorse political candidates in certain circumstances.

This attempt to eliminate the “Johnson Amendment” from the IRS Code would have a highly detrimental effect on nonprofits and houses of worship both around the country and here in Alaska. Learn more here.

What You Can Do – A Call to Action

In our continuing effort to share information about how Alaska nonprofits are being impacted by federal policies, Foraker sent a letter to our congressional delegation on May 15 expressing concerns related to the federal budget tax proposals.

You can read the letter here. We also encourage you to share your views on the tax proposals with the delegation.

We are hearing from many organizations in crisis. We want to help advocate for the important services you provide. Please provide us with updates so we can share the impacts with our policymakers.

Fill out this real-time consequences form to share your news.

Are you looking for ways to prepare your organization for these turbulent times — those we are experiencing now and those that may lie ahead? We’ve prepared Eight Steps to help guide you.

Join our Advocacy in Action webinars where we highlight issues impacting Alaska’s nonprofits and tribes and offer suggestions on how you can become involved in advocating your position on them.
Watch this page and our blog as we add more ways you can support your organization and the sector. And you can sign up here to receive special announcements.

Follow the Executive Orders – Their Impacts and Status

President Trump signed dozens of executive orders (EOs) covering a broad range of issues, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, government grants and contracts, civic engagement, immigration, and certain nonprofit subsectors.

Some of the EOs won’t take effect immediately, and many are being challenged in court. The National Council of Nonprofits maintains a list of EOs and their current status, which it updates regularly.

You can find the latest here on the impact of executive orders on nonprofits.

What is an executive order? Have you wondered exactly what an executive order does? See this explanation from the American Bar Association.

How Foraker is Supporting Your Work

Foraker is actively engaging with elected officials, including state legislators and our federal delegation, and with the National Council of Nonprofits to gain clarity on current federal actions.

We are also talking with Alaska-based funders and other technical assistance providers to stay informed and engaged.

Our goal is to mitigate the impact on Alaska’s 5,688 nonprofits and all tribes, their 35,302 employees, and the communities they serve. To better understand the impact on Alaska nonprofits, we conducted two surveys of nonprofits in January and February. We received close to 300 responses from a wide range of organizations that serve Alaskans. Here’s some of what we learned: Read the Report. 

The following reports and presentations bring to life the impact of nonprofits on the quality of life for Alaskans. Use this information to support advocacy for your organization.

For Laurie’s perspective on the challenges currently facing Alaska’s nonprofits, see her opening comments at our April Leadership Summit and in her column Let’s Build a Runway in the our April newsletter.

On June 11, Laurie was part of Planning Amid Disruption: Navigating Tariffs, Recession Fears, and More, a panel discussion sponsored by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. You can view the full program here.

Foraker’s Rapid Response Tools

We have launched a Rapid Response set of classes, tools, and connection points to help you navigate this crisis. Check out these classes and watch for announcements of additions to come.

NEW — Rapid Response Webinars — Recordings

Resources from the National Council of Nonprofits, which are updated regularly.

Additional resources from trusted sources

In the News – Alaska Nonprofit Impact Stories

Note: Only articles that are not blocked by paywalls are included in this list. We encourage you to follow Alaska’s print media and other trusted outlets for additional coverage.

Latest Federal Impact Posts

Oct 7, 2025
Facing the “Not Normal” – Five Actions to Take

October has brought us snowy mountains, golden leaves, and a government shutdown. Many may remember the federal government shutdown of 2018 – it lasted 35 days, with far-reaching negative impacts for people, businesses, nonprofits, and the government itself. Now, another shutdown is underway. A federal government shutdown translates to real, potentially devastating impacts on people, communities, and the nonprofits that Alaskans rely on every day. Simply stated, during a shutdown, federal agencies cannot spend or obligate congressionally approved funds, including funds for paying employees, meeting grant obligations, and operating federal programs. Based on previous shutdowns, this one will have immediate and longer-term impacts on Alaska nonprofits and the people we serve. That’s because many of our nonprofits will see an increased demand for services while experiencing decreased funding. Previous shutdowns proved in… Read more »

Sep 26, 2025
Federal Government Shutdown: What Alaska Nonprofits Need to Know

Many may remember the federal government shutdown of 2018 – it lasted 35 days, with far-reaching negative impacts for people, businesses, nonprofits, and the government itself. Now, another shutdown is underway. A federal government shutdown translates to real, potentially devastating impacts on people, communities, and nonprofits that Alaskans rely on every day. Simply stated, during a shutdown, federal agencies cannot spend or obligate congressionally approved funds, including funds for paying employees, meeting grant obligations, and operating federal programs. Based on previous shutdowns, this one will have immediate and longer-term impacts on Alaska nonprofits and the people we serve. That’s because many of our nonprofits will see an increased demand for services while experiencing decreased funding. Previous shutdowns proved in too many ways that nonprofits will once again be called upon… Read more »

Sep 10, 2025
Navigating Uncertainty Together: Rapid Response Convenings

Many organizations are facing increased uncertainty due to recent federal government changes. Our Rapid Response Convenings are designed to help you navigate this evolving landscape by creating a network of support. These one-hour virtual sessions provide a safe and collaborative space to share current challenges, exchange ideas and solutions, and learn from the collective wisdom of your peers. Thanks to the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we’re offering these free convenings specifically for: Fundraisers (This session is for Executive Directors, Development Staff, Board Members, or anyone who is involved in fundraising at your organization) October 13, November 3, December 1 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Nonprofit HR professionals October 14, November 13, December 11 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm Nonprofit Finance professionals… Read more »

Sep 10, 2025
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! Encounters with the Federal Government

Right now, as the nonprofit sector, and as individual leaders, we are doing our best to navigate the twisting turns that lay in front of us. There are lions, and tigers, and bears, and a lot of “oh my” every day. That is, if lions are impoundment, tigers are rescission, and bears are the threat to nonprofit nonpartisanship, and the are all sitting against the backdrop of executive orders, that makes us exclaim another “oh my!” This journey is sometimes loud, often confusing and even dizzying, and a lot to take in on any given day regardless of whether you agree with the actions or not. Honestly, it is so much all at once, one could just get overwhelmed without a full understanding of the whole story. Let’s take impoundment,… Read more »

Aug 13, 2025
Changes Possible to Federal Loan Forgiveness Program

As the result of a Trump executive order, the U.S. Department of Education is considering changes to the rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program including one that would exclude some 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Once the rule is announced, the public will have 30 days to comment on it. Information is available in this webinar from the National Council of Nonprofits…. Read more »

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