A federal funding bill that includes hundreds of millions of dollars for housing, transportation, and infrastructure projects in Alaska is moving forward in the US Senate, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week and now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
The bill contains funding for national programs that have outsized relevance in Alaska, where rural and remote communities rely heavily on air travel, federal housing assistance, and subsidized infrastructure.
The Senate bill continues funding for the Denali Commission’s Access and Waterfront Programs, which address rural transportation and port/harbor construction in Alaska. This targeted funding is not replicated in most other states, but the Denali Commission may be zeroed out by President Donald Trump, as it is seen by many budget hawks as a pork producer.
Here’s the funding list for Alaska:
- Anchorage: $1,600,000 for Covenant House Alaska to purchase the Dena’ina House.
- Anchorage: $287,000 for NeighborWorks Alaska to replace their fire alarm system.
- Anchorage: $750,000 for Anchorage Community Land Trust for building repairs.
- Anchorage: $320,000 for Catholic Social Services to improve accessibility and egress at shelter.
- Buckland, Noatak, Kivalina: $330,000 for Northwest Arctic Borough School District to construct and renovate teacher housing.
- Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of AK: $2,500,000 to provide housing for first responders in Angoon, Hydaburg, Kake, Thorne Bay, and Pelican.
- City of Angoon: $2,000,000 to design and construct access to boat launch facility.
- Cordova: $750,000 for Cordova Family Resource Center to purchase and renovate a building.
- Craig: $900,000 for Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies (HOPE) to purchase a building for a domestic violence shelter.
- Emmonak: $4,000,000 through the Denali Commission to construct a domestic violence shelter.
- Fairbanks: $5,000,000 for the Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) for road reconstruction.
- Fairbanks: $2,000,000 for North Star Council on Aging to rehabilitate senior housing.
- Fairbanks: $1,000,000 for Fairbanks Neighborhood Housing Services Inc to construct affordable housing.
- Fairbanks: $700,000 for Fairbanks Youth Advocates to build transitional housing for youth at risk of homelessness.
- Haines: $1,000,000 for Borough of Haines to construct an early childhood education building.
- Kake: $2,000,000 for Kake Tribal Corporation to replace a dock.
- Ketchikan: $1,575,000 for Inter-Island Ferry Authority for marine vessel upgrades.
- Ketchikan: $1,000,000 for Southeast Alaska Independent Living, Inc. to purchase and renovate a building to support people with disabilities.
- Ketchikan: $2,000,000 for Ketchikan Indian Community to construct a navigation center.
- Minto: $608,000 for Yukon Koyukuk School District to renovate teacher housing.
- Naknek: $2,000,000 for South Naknek Village Council to construct affordable housing.
- Native Village of Diomede: $1,500,000 to renovate teacher housing.
- Native Village of Unalakleet: $255,000 to construct housing for victims of violent crimes.
- Nome: $4,000,000 for City of Nome to construct housing for teachers and public safety officers.
- Nulato Village: $4,000,000 for Nulato Village for port infrastructure improvements.
- Petersburg: $2,000,000 for Petersburg Borough to replace a float and breakwater at Banana Point.
- Saint Paul Island: $1,000,000 for City of Saint Paul for fire station construction and renovation.
- Seldovia: $482,000 for City of Seldovia to replace the Jakolof Bay Dock.
- Sitka: $1,000,000 for Sitkans Against Family Violence to construct and renovate a domestic violence shelter.
- Soldotna: $2,387,000 for AKDOT to reconstruct a portion of Marydale Avenue.
- Talkeetna: $4,500,000 for Sunshine Station Child Care Center to design and construct a new childcare center.
- Thorne Bay: $1,574,000 for City of Thorne Bay to construct a new Fire and EMS building.
- Wasilla: $3,000,000 for Wasilla Airport (IYS) to design and extend runway.
- Yakutat: $2,000,000 for City & Borough of Yakutat to build housing.
The bill includes:
- $20 million for the Don Young Alaska Aviation Safety Initiative, which focuses on improving aviation safety in rural areas.
- $687.5 million for the Essential Air Service, which subsidizes commercial air service to small and isolated communities nationwide, including many in Alaska.
It also provides national items that have Alaska interest:
- $63 billion for the Federal Highway Administration
- $2.9 billion for the Federal Railroad Administration
- $874 million for the Maritime Administration, including:
- $30 million for grants to small shipyards
- $75 million for port infrastructure development
Lots of pork there. We need DOGE
Most of this spending is just pork. Where is the Federal nexus and why should taxpayers be on the hook?
This isn’t “Federal Funding”. This is all printed money with no economic basis and will do nothing less than further devalue our dollar. Most of this is wasted money that will leave behind near zero trace in 10 years. Many of these communities have ZERO economy and exist solely on state oil money and this printed money from the fed. What you see here is a continuation of the terrible policies that have resulted in all the inflation that has occurred and a furtherance of the national debt.
Pork barrel at its finest,.
WOW. So many zeros for housing teachers, first responders, etc. Seriously ?
It is really embarrassing when Republican senators forget part of our platform is “smaller government. Most all of this money is going to liberal organizations or ones defined as incompetent years ago like the Denali Commission. I believe they forget who the taxpayers are that fund this and need to look at recent DOGE reports!
Judy, My Judy – it’s even more embarrassing when you quantify how our party is putting us further and further into debt as a nation. Disgraceful and a true abomination!
I am starting to waken up and realize that our elected leaders are not who they claim to be.
I’m with Judy – let us join the American Party and get this country back on track. Judy would be a great candidate…I’m with Ms. Judy!
Why does Fairbanks get $5 million for roads and Anchorage gets ZERO for roads? So tired of our roads in disrepair. UGH!
A lot of money for victims of violence. I don’t see any for mental health institutions or jails. Just an observation.
Just my personal thoughts here. “Where is DOGE???
Good thing I’m not the fiscal “God” of funding cause there would be a whole lot of “NOPE”.
Cheers
Al-Ketchikan
In the wise words of DJT; “Thank you Lisa”.