On Feb. 21, 2025, the Anchorage Assembly held a work session to receive a federal-issues briefing from Blank Rome government-relations staff covering FY25 appropriations, earmarks, Port of Alaska grant awards, federal permitting changes and potential changes to Medicaid and tribal funding.

The presentation matters because temporary federal spending authority expires March 14, leaving key municipal priorities — including earmark requests, Port of Alaska projects and HUD Continuum of Care funding — in limbo until Congress resolves FY25 spending. Assembly members also pressed the lobbyists on permitting reform and federal staffing for wildfire response, and raised concerns about potential cuts or rule changes affecting Medicaid and tribal programs.

Blank Rome lead lobbyist Don Norton told the assembly the fiscal-year funding picture remains unsettled: "FY '25 annual appropriations. The fiscal year started 5 months ago. We don't have a budget yet," he said, noting March 14 as the date current temporary authority expires. Norton and colleagues advised three possible near-term outcomes for FY25 spending: a government shutdown, a short shutdown followed by another continuing resolution, or an FY25 omnibus appropriations package that could include previously proposed earmarks. CJ Zane, also of Blank Rome, summarized the same three outcomes as "any one of those three for FY '25."

Members were urged to be mindful of congressional earmark deadlines. Norton said Sen. Lisa Murkowski set an earmark deadline of Feb. 28 (an extension from Feb. 14), and advised the municipality to submit any congressional-directed spending requests "in an entirely manner" before that date.

The briefing highlighted federal grant activity that directly affects the city. Norton told the assembly the Port of Alaska recently received a $50,000,000 merit grant and a $1,900,000 EPA grant for electrification planning, the latter tied to programs enacted in the Inflation Reduction Act. He said some grant processing delays that had paused draws were resolved, but urged the municipality to report any unexplained interruptions so the Alaska delegation can intervene.

Assembly members also discussed permitting and energy policy. Joan Bondareff of Blank Rome said the White House Council on Environmental Quality issued a Federal Register notice intended to "repeal all of the existing NEPA regulations and replace them with guidance," a move she said is being watched because changes to NEPA could speed environmental review and permitting for major projects. Genevieve Cowan and CJ Zane added that the new administration appears to favor an "all of the above" energy approach that emphasizes baseline energy sources while leaving some opportunities for renewables, including hydroelectric projects important in parts of Alaska.

Members raised public-safety and human-services concerns tied to federal policy. One assembly member referenced the Ninth Circuit decision on homeless abatement and asked whether affected jurisdictions could seek federal compensation; Blank Rome said they had not heard of such an effort and that courts typically do not provide compensation to municipalities for judicial rulings. Norton described efforts to protect tribal programs from broader executive-order rollbacks and said the firm is "paying close attention" to how the administration treats tribal funding and sovereignty.

On Medicaid, Norton said possible changes are under discussion in budget planning and committee work in the House — including questions about work-related eligibility rules — but that specifics are uncertain. CJ Zane said changes to able-bodied work rules for Medicaid eligibility are "on the table" as part of early budget-reconciliation conversations.

Assembly members asked the lobbyists to prioritize several local interests, including HUD Continuum of Care funding and wildfire staffing. Blank Rome said they routinely submit written monthly reports to municipal staff and offered to share the firm's appropriations and executive-order trackers and other materials after the session.

The session concluded with staff and members agreeing to follow up: the assembly will provide its prior resolutions and documentation to the lobbyists for continued advocacy, and Blank Rome will continue monitoring appropriations, reconciliation activity and permitting-rule changes and will report back in writing and at a planned in-person briefing in August.