New reporting reveals that ConocoPhillips plans to lay off North Slope workers amid Senator Dan Sullivan’s trade war.

ANCHORAGE, AK – Senator Dan Sullivan’s trade war is leading to layoffs of workers on Alaska’s North Slope, the latest casualty of his agenda that is spiking costs, hurting workers, and prioritizing billionaires.

ConocoPhillips, which employs roughly 1,000 Alaskans, announced it would be laying off up to a quarter of its workforce. While in Congress, Mary Peltola fought to bring these jobs to Alaska after pushing the Biden administration to approve the ConocoPhillips Willow Project. Now, those jobs are in jeopardy following Sullivan’s reckless tariffs that are hurting American workers and Alaska families who are facing skyrocketing costs.

Statement from Chair Eric Croft of the Alaska Democratic Party:

“Dan Sullivan’s trade war was already hurting Alaskans’ pocketbooks, and now it’s directly leading to a loss of Alaska jobs. Sullivan has repeatedly prioritized tax breaks for his billionaire buddies and corporations while leaving Alaskans with more expensive electric bills, health care, and groceries. Now, Alaska’s workers are next on the chopping block. Sullivan’s refusal to put Alaskans over his billionaire donors is a disgrace. No one is safe from Sullivan’s anti-Alaska, pro-billionaire agenda. We deserve better.”

ANCHORAGE, AK – Dan Sullivan and Nick Begich voted to shut down the government after refusing to support a measure that would have saved over 20,000 Alaskans from devastating, impending health care premium hikes. 

Now, the Sullivan Shutdown will cause Alaskans’ health insurance costs to skyrocket by an estimated $1,836 a year after he passed a bill to eliminate extended ACA premium tax credits. Already facing “the most expensive health care in the country,” Alaskans are now bracing for premiums projected to rise by “more than 700% per month in some cases.”

Statement from Chair Eric Croft of the Alaska Democratic Party:

“At a time when Alaskans’ pockets are already stretched thin due to spiking costs, Dan Sullivan and Nick Begich voted again to increase health care costs and rip coverage away from tens of thousands of their constituents. Sullivan and Begich would rather shut down the government than work with Democrats to avert the disastrous health care premium increases that are headed Alaska’s way. Make no mistake: This is the Sullivan Shutdown, and Alaskans will be the ones forced to foot the bill.”

Alaska Beacon: “If federal subsidies end, the cost of health insurance would rise so much that many Alaskans will go uninsured.”

As Alaskans face a hike in health care costs of “more than 700%” as a result of the toxic GOP agenda, Senator Dan Sullivan said that “there’s no way [he] would ever vote for” Democrats’ plan to permanently extend expanded ACA subsidies and prevent health care costs from rising as a result of Sullivan’s bill. 

As an expert quoted by the Alaska Beacon notes, Alaskans already face “the most expensive health care in the country,” and now Dan Sullivan is forcing his constituents to pay even more for care. Alaskans warn that, because of Sullivan’s plan, “the cost of health insurance would rise so much that many Alaskans will go uninsured [and] might even lead to an exodus from the state.”

See for yourself: 

Alaska Beacon: Alaskans face massive health insurance cost increases unless Congress acts before year end

• More than 25,000 Alaskans who buy health insurance through the federal marketplace will face massive and possibly unaffordable cost increases if federal subsidies expire at the end of the year.

• “I do think it’s important to recognize that we should be seeing thousands of people likely lose coverage from this,” said Jared Kosin, president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital and Healthcare Association.

• Speaking to a room at Juneau’s convention center, [experts] said if federal subsidies end, the cost of health insurance would rise so much that many Alaskans will go uninsured, discouraging them from getting checkups that could prevent serious illnesses. Hospitals would see a larger number of emergencies from uninsured people, straining them. It might even lead to an exodus from the state, as people seek alternative options and cheaper places to live. 

• “I worry about that,” said Kim Champney, executive director of the Alaska Association on Developmental Disabilities. “Because I think people will decide to leave Alaska because we have the most expensive health care in the country.” 

• Anton Rieselbach, with the Juneau Economic Development Council provided an analysis of cost estimates for Juneau. In Alaska’s capital city alone, 1,389 people receive health care via insurance plans bought through the federal marketplace. Right now, those Juneauites pay an average of $124 per month. If those subsidies expire, that will rise to $1,008 per month, an increase of more than 700%.

• But if subsidies end, Alaska would be exceptionally hard-hit. The state has the highest health-care costs in the nation, which means unsubsidized insurance rates are high. 

• Of the 28,736 Alaskans who have health insurance policies through the federal marketplace, 25,170 receive the enhanced subsidies, according to figures published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

• If the enhanced subsidies expire, the poorest Alaskans will still see their plans subsidized. Middle-class Alaskans would be hard hit.

• The issue has now gotten entangled with the impending government shutdown. Senate Democrats have demanded — among other things — a permanent extension of the health care subsidies, without changes, in exchange for their votes on keeping the federal government open.

• Sen. Dan Sullivan also supports an extension of the subsidies, but “there’s no way I would ever vote for that,” he said of the Democratic plan.

Sullivan must answer for his refusal to show up for a vote to undo the damage of his bill, which let expanded ACA tax credit subsidies expire and will spike health care premiums for Alaskans.

ANCHORAGE, AK – It’s been five days since Dan Sullivan refused to show up for the government funding vote – which would prevent a catastrophic spike in health care costs – and Alaskans have heard nothing but five days of silence from Sullivan.

Alaska’s other U.S. Senator, Lisa Murkowski, was in attendance and voted against the measure. Sullivan must answer for why he failed to do his job as a U.S. Senator and show up to vote on the effort to extend the expanded ACA tax credit subsidies. 

Statement from Chair Eric Croft of the Alaska Democratic Party:

“When given the chance to undo some of the damage of the Big, Bullshit Bill he passed that will spike health care premiums and jeopardize affordable health care, Dan Sullivan couldn’t even bother to show up. Sullivan’s refusal to be in D.C. to vote for lower health care costs and prevent a government shutdown – and his five days of silence since – is an insult to Alaskans. Dan Sullivan might think he can escape his job responsibilities, but Alaskans will not be able to escape the higher health care costs and devastating impacts of Sullivan’s agenda.”

Alaska Beacon: “U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was absent from both votes. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against both proposals.”

NPR: “A competing plan offered by Democrats, which would pair government funding with additional dollars for health care, also failed by a vote of 47 to 45 […] They say millions of people who rely on expanded federal subsidies as part of the Affordable Care Act are at risk of losing their health care coverage if Congress fails to act.”

NBC News: “The measure backed by Democrats in both chambers would have funded the government through Oct. 31 with a series of policy add-ons. It would permanently extend Obamacare subsidies set to expire at the end of the year, as well as reverse Medicaid cuts enacted in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan nowhere to be found during vote for a plan that would have extended expanded ACA tax credit subsidies to prevent a huge spike in health care costs.

ANCHORAGE, AK – Senator Dan Sullivan skipped a vote today on a plan that would have stopped the impending increase of health insurance premium costs for Alaskans and averted a government shutdown. Senator Lisa Murkowski voted against the measure.

Statement from Chair Eric Croft of the Alaska Democratic Party:

“At a moment when Alaskans needed Dan Sullivan to show up to prevent their health care costs from spiking even higher, Dan was nowhere to be found. He skipped a critical vote today that would have stopped an increase in health insurance prices and averted a government shutdown. After voting in July to slash affordable health care and jeopardize Alaska’s rural hospitals, and now skipping a vote that would have allowed him to undo some of the damage of the policies he voted for, it’s clear that Alaskans will never be able to count on Dan in their time of need. Dan Sullivan serves special interests and billionaires, not Alaskans.”

BACKGROUND: 

• ABC News: Democrats set fight over health care as possible government shutdown looms
• CBS News: Democrats release counteroffer to avert shutdown while House moves ahead on GOP plan
• CNBC: ACA cliff may mean ‘huge premium shock’ for 22 million people in 2026, expert says
• Spectrum News: Democrats warn health care costs for millions will increase if Affordable Care Act tax credits lapse

Alaska lost a champion recently – a champion for equal rights, education, democratic values, and basic kindness. Former State Senator Judith “Judy” Salo died on August 24. A celebration of her life will be held on Thursday, September 18, at 5 PM at the Crimson Restaurant at the Wildbirch Hotel in Anchorage. 

“Judy Salo was a tireless advocate for education,” said Judy’s longtime friend, Lieutenant Gov. Fran Ulmer. “As a teacher, legislator, and community volunteer, she worked to ensure Alaska’s education system was fair, effective, and adequately funded. Her commitment to public service and democratic values inspired many others to actively participate in the hard work of building a better future for Alaska.”

“Senator Judy Salo was and is a legend,” said Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft. “She always fought for children, as a teacher, NEA activist, legislator, and after. She will be missed. I’m really, really happy that she lived to see the veto override to support education.” 

Originally from Tower, Minnesota, Judy moved to Alaska with her husband, Robb, in 1965, first to Nome, then to Kenai. She taught 5th grade for more than 20 years. Active in NEA, she served as President of the Kenai Peninsula Education Association, NEA-Alaska Vice President, President, and Director, and was inducted into the NEA-Alaska Hall of Fame. Judy was appointed to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1990 and was elected to the Alaska Senate in 1992. 

In lieu of flowers, Judy encouraged donations in her name to the Alaska Democratic Party, Planned Parenthood, or Let Every Woman Know, supporting uterine cancer survivors. 

In case you missed it, last week Senator Dan Sullivan voted against an effort that would have forced the DOJ to release the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite previously urging the DOJ to “release as much information as possible on Epstein’s horrific crimes” in July.

When given the opportunity to back up his words with action, Sullivan did exactly the opposite. See for yourself:

Alaska Beacon: Murkowski, Sullivan vote with Republicans against measure seeking release of Epstein files

September 11, 2025

By James Brooks

• Dan Sullivan joined fellow Senate Republicans Wednesday night in voting to set aside a budget amendment that would have compelled the U.S. Department of Justice to release files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

• The vote to table the amendment, stopping the Senate from considering it, was 51-49. 

• All of the Senate’s Democrats voted in favor of the amendment, as did Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky.

• The failure of either of Alaska’s Republican senators to vote for the amendment drew criticism from the Alaska Democratic Party.

• The day after the vote, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released a statement, saying by email: “Just two months ago, Dan Sullivan called on the Department of Justice to release the documents to shine a light on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes. But last night, Dan Sullivan was a deciding vote to continue the cover-up and block an effort to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files. Instead of listening to Alaskans and the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Sullivan acted in his usual fashion – like a spineless politician who’s only loyal to his billionaire buddies. Alaskans and survivors deserve better.”

After calling for the release of the Epstein files, Senator Dan Sullivan was a deciding vote to block the release of the Epstein files.

ANCHORAGE, AK – Senator Dan Sullivan voted against forcing the Department of Justice to release the files related to convicted pedophile and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

In July of this year, Sullivan called for the release of the Epstein files, saying the DOJ should “release as much information as possible on Epstein’s horrific crimes.” But on September 10th, when he had the opportunity to do exactly that, Sullivan voted NO and blocked the effort to release the files.

Statement from Chair Eric Croft of the Alaska Democratic Party:

“Just two months ago, Dan Sullivan called on the Department of Justice to release the documents to shine a light on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes. But last night, Dan Sullivan was a deciding vote to continue the cover-up and block an effort to force the DOJ to release the Epstein files. Instead of listening to Alaskans and the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Sullivan acted in his usual fashion – like a spineless politician who’s only loyal to his billionaire buddies. Alaskans and survivors deserve better.”

Following Tom Begich’s announcement, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement: 

“The race begins with Tom Begich, our first Democrat, announcing that he has filed his letter of intent for Governor. Stressing education, energy, and fiscal sustainability in his press announcement, we know Tom as a facilitator, communicator, and someone who knows how to listen. We’re excited that he will be holding community conversations around the state beginning in October to help inform and support all of our candidates. Tom stresses it is time to move Alaska in a new direction that ensures our kids have a future here, our businesses thrive, and our cultures prosper. 

He’s a longtime friend and activist in the party and, as our former Minority Leader in the Senate, showed us how Democrats can shape the agenda in Juneau and make a difference for all Alaskans. Thank you, Tom, for stepping up!”

Following Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement: 

“Just as we expected, Trump failed to accomplish anything meaningful by inviting a war criminal to a meeting on American soil without Ukrainian representation at the table. As Trump spends his time ‘being neighborly’ with Putin, Ukrainians’ lives are on the line, Americans are losing access to necessary services, including health care, food assistance, and life-saving emergency alerts, and millionaires like Representative Nick Begich and Senator Dan Sullivan are lining their own pockets by voting for tax giveaways. To be frank, we are disappointed, but not surprised, and we will not back down from applying pressure to Trump to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine.”

Ahead of Donald Trump’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement: 

“Trump promised on day one that he would negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. Instead, with the help of Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich, he decided to spend his time handing out tax giveaways to millionaires and billionaires, and gutting funding for health care, food assistance, and life-saving emergency alerts. Now, over 200 days into his term, Trump has finally decided to call for peace in Ukraine. But, he’s doing so without Ukrainian representation at the table, which is frankly alarming. The Alaska Democratic Party is calling on Trump to finally uphold his unfulfilled promises of negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine, lowering costs for working families, and focusing on America.”

After Dunleavy’s attempt to attack public education funding failed, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement: 

“Dunleavy tried to play every dirty trick to prevent the funding for public education, but he failed. Thank you to our Democratic-led majorities who got the job done for Alaska’s children. With this veto override, our schools will receive the largest Base Student Allocation increase in Alaska history, providing our students, teachers, staff, and public schools with the resources they need to succeed. And for Governor Dunleavy: the future of Alaska is not up for grabs. We will always fight for public education.”

“There is no way that we can fill that hole in our budget with local fundraising.”

“It keeps me up at night to think about what could happen.”

ANCHORAGE, AK, July 24, 2025 – Days after Senator Dan Sullivan voted to gut the public media stations that keep Alaskans informed during natural disasters—even as his constituents were sheltering in place during an active tsunami warning—Alaskans across the state are slamming the decision as dangerous and out of touch. 

Here’s what they’re saying: 

Alaska’s News Source: Public Radio, Television Stations Concerned About Funding Cuts

• Congress passed a list of budget cuts last week that included billions slashed from public media funding. Just a week out from that, we’re seeing the first big impacts. 

• What you’re seeing now is a station transmitter for KCHU […] with the federal cuts, KCHU is calling on the public to help by donating.

• Referencing the 1964 earthquake, [KCHU News Director James Devins says] “there was a tidal wave, both in Valdez and Cheniere, and the tidal wave killed dozens of people.”

• “And the difference that day between the people that lived and the people that died was where they happened to be standing when the wave hit because they had no warning at all. And today the warning that they would have would come from KCHU public radio. Without that signal, it keeps me up at night to think about what could happen.”

Alaska’s News Source: Federal Lawmakers Considering Cuts to Public Broadcasting Funding

• Federal lawmakers overnight passing $9 billion in cuts to global aid and broadcasting with the Senate’s vote on the Recessions Act of 2025. 

• Here in Alaska, with cuts looming, local stations such as the public outlet in Unalaska stand to lose a lot of money. 

• Alaska Public Media tells us the state could lose some $30 million in funding for stations like KUCB, which issued urgent alerts during yesterday’s earthquake and during that tsunami scare. They could lose access to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In Unalaska, they’re looking at $290,000 in cuts, their General Manager, Lauren Adams, told us today. That’s 43% of their budget. I asked that they would be able to continue giving out potentially life saving information. The funding isn’t there. Adams said she wasn’t sure.

• “So we’re going to look very different. It’s going to have to be a collaborative effort with our community and our board of directors to find a way to move forward, but there is no way that we can fill that hole in our budget with local fundraising. We’re a very small community, and our community already gives a lot to not only us, but to all the nonprofits.”

Juneau Empire (Opinion): Begich and Sullivan Failed to Represent Alaskans

• […] Dan Sullivan and U.S. Rep. Nick Begich had the opportunity last week to say no to Trump’s proposal to rescind two years worth of federal funding for public radio and TV in this country.

• The measure before Congress yanked roughly $30 million from public radio in Alaska. That’s no small number: Of the 27 public radio stations in the state, 11 receive more than half their budget from the federal Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In Wrangell, federal funding covers close to half of KSTK’s annual budget.

• This is not a trim, it’s a hatchet job.

• [Senator Murkoswki]: “My colleagues are targeting NPR (National Public Radio) but will wind up hurting — and, over time, closing down — local radio stations that provide essential news, alerts and educational programming in Alaska and across the country.”

• Sullivan, who often mimics the president’s misleading and dishonest rhetoric, didn’t say anything. His spokesperson said the senator had warned public media that their “biased reporting” could cost them money. 

• Voting against the recissions package would have been a big help, but that option just wasn’t on Sullivan’s dial.

Anchorage Daily News (Opinion): Letter: Where’s the engagement with Alaska from Sullivan and Begich? 

• Every time I read about the reaction to questions sent to Dan Sullivan and Nick Begich regarding their votes, I read “their office didn’t reply” or “no comment at this time”. 

• The only communication we seem to get from them are bland, one-sided editorials filled with hyperbole and misinformation. 

• As elected officials, Duck and Cover Dan and No Comment Nick need to make themselves available to answer their constituents’ legitimate concerns.

ANCHORAGE, AK – In yet another attempt to underfund and attack Alaska’s public schools, Governor Mike Dunleavy tried to take advantage of State Senator Forrest Dunbar’s deployment to prevent the state legislature from passing an increase for the Base Student Allocation (BSA). This was a direct attempt to deny Dunbar a chance to vote, thus denying his constituents a voice.

“Let’s be clear, this is one of Dunleavy’s many dirty tricks to prevent the override of his veto for education funding,” said Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft. “But, this time, he is outright disrespecting Senator Dunbar’s commitment and duty to serve our country in the National Guard, by taking advantage of Dunbar’s deployment. There is nothing Dunleavy won’t try to further his anti-education political agenda, including taking advantage of a legislator’s active commitment to the military. We’re grateful for Senator Dunbar’s service to our country’s security and to Alaska. If not for his dedication to his constituency, we may have seen our persistent efforts to fund education fail yet again.”

Dunbar not only serves his community as a State Senator for SD J, but he also serves our nation as a member of the Alaska Army National Guard. Dunbar was deployed to Poland, which he announced in May, with the expectation of staying overseas for most of the year. But, Dunbar quickly secured an exception to use leave to serve Alaska when Dunleavy called an unexpected Special Session beginning on August 2, 2025, with education funding on the agenda. 

“I plan to return to Alaska for the start of the Special Session, and I will be voting yes to override, so that our students have the funds they need to avoid catastrophic cuts to their schools,” said Senator Forrest Dunbar in a statement released on social media.

Dunbar was granted an Exception to Policy (ETP) by the overall commander of the Alaska National Guard that allowed him to use his personal leave time to serve in the State Senate. An exception of this kind is very rare, having to go through four layers of the chain of command, and getting one required considerable time and work. 

“Senator Dunbar’s commitment to his constituents and Alaska will not be forgotten,” said Alaska Democratic Party Executive Director Jenny-Marie Stryker. “Dunbar had an excused absence and a valid reason to miss this vote, yet he still fought to come home and is paying his own way to fight for our future, our families, and our schools from Dunleavy’s relentless attacks on public education.” 

Dunleavy’s education veto needed 45 votes to be overridden, and the State Legislature successfully overridden his veto with a vote of 46-14 in May. With Dunbar and Senator James Kauffman’s excused absences, that meant Dunleavy could have caused the override to fail in this Special Session if both state senators had not changed their plans. After scheduling the session, Dunleavy went as far as encouraging 19 members of the House’s Republican minority caucus to “stay home” for the first five days in an attempt to reverse the override.

“For folks in the Lower 48 wondering why Alaskans are talking so much about a Governor’s race 16 months out, this is what we’re dealing with,” said former U.S. Representative Mary Peltola in a statement on social media. “Thank you, Senator Dunbar, for serving our country overseas—and then flying straight to Juneau to clean up this mess. Extreme measures to combat extremist politics. Alaskan kids deserve better, and a better way is coming next November.”

ANCHORAGE, AK – Just hours after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Unalaska—triggering tsunami alerts and causing families to seek shelter—Senator Dan Sullivan voted to defund the public radio station that helped keep them safe.

As KUCB broadcast critical alerts and updates to Alaskans throughout the emergency, Sullivan was in D.C. voting against the very funding that makes that service possible. 

See for yourself:

Alaska Public Media: U.S. Senate votes to defund CPB, rejecting Murkowski’s effort to spare station money

• The U.S. Senate has passed a bill to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and cut billions from foreign aid programs.

• Before the bill passed, Senator Lisa Murkowski […] read her colleagues a text she’d received from the general manager of KUCB in Unalaska after Wednesday’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake. When the tsunami sirens sounded in Unalaska, the loudspeakers directed people to tune into the local radio station, the text said, and Murkowski relayed that KUCB kept the community updated on air and social media until the all-clear.

• “They say, ‘This is the work that we do to keep Unalaska safe,’ And it’s only possible with federal funding,” Murkowski said, as the debate stretched into the wee hours of Thursday. 

• Sen. Dan Sullivan voted against the public media amendment and helped Republican leaders pass the $9 billion rescission package, which is a high priority for President Donald Trump.

As Alaskans endure 6 months of Donald Trump’s billionaires-first agenda, Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croft released the following statement: 

“Donald Trump, Dan Sullivan, and Nick Begich promised they’d lower prices in Alaska. Instead, at the 6-month mark, they have pushed a budget that will cost Alaska households $1,300 annually to fill the pockets of millionaires and billionaires, like themselves and their donors Lower 48 donors. Thanks to Trump, Sullivan, and Begich nearly 40,000 Alaskans will lose their health care coverage, and 5,000 Alaskans risk losing access to food assistance. After six months on the job, one thing is clear: if you’re not an ultra-wealthy donor, Trump, Sullivan, and Begich are screwing you over.”

At the 6-month mark, with the help of Senator Dan Sullivan and Representative Nick Begich, Donald Trump has broken his promise to everyone but his billionaire backers. In response, Democrats just launched TrumpTax.com to show what Trump is costing working Alaskans since stepping into office. Thanks to Trump, Sullivan, and Begich:

• Nearly 40,000 Alaskans will lose health insurance.
  
  
• 5,000 Alaskans are at risk of losing food assistance.
  
  
• 2,400 Alaskans could lose their job.
  
  
• Combined with Trump’s reckless tariffs agenda, the median household will lose nearly $1,300 annually.
  
  
• Alaskans’ electricity bills will rise by 0.9%.

• Trump’s reckless tariffs have already cost Alaska businesses $16.7 million.