(The Center Square) – About 4,700 Alaska state employees who receive part of their pay from the federal government would still get paid if Congress cannot avoid a shutdown, according to Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Some House Republicans are refusing to support a spending measure that includes aid to Ukraine and are calling for more funds for border security. The deadline to reach an agreement is Saturday.
The government shut down 34 days in 2019, the longest on record.
“The State of Alaska is prepared to continue state-administered federally funded programs for that length of time,” according to a news release from Dunleavy’s office. “If a federal government shutdown were to continue beyond that timeframe, the State will reevaluate the situation if necessary, and prioritize programs that most directly impact the life, health, and safety of Alaskans.”
It is unknown if the few federal employees working for the state government will work through the shutdown, according to the governor’s office.
The U.S. Senate passed a stopgap measure on Tuesday that could prevent a shutdown. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is not likely to take that plan to the House floor for a vote, according to The Hill. Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan voted for the measure.
Murkowski and Sullivan are backing legislation ensuring military personnel are paid if an agreement is not reached.
“When our men and women in uniform have asked me about a potential government shutdown, they haven’t inquired about their pay. The first thing they ask about is how it will impact on our military readiness,” Murkowski said in a statement. “Our Armed Forces should not have to deal with political disruptions interfering with their paycheck or ability to engage their mission of keeping Americans safe. This is non-negotiable for me.”
Sullivan said lawmakers like to say how much they support the military, and this is a time to “step up.”
“We have entered the most dangerous period in American history since the end of World War II—a new era of authoritarian aggression led by the dictators in Beijing and Moscow,” Sullivan said. “All Americans count on our military members to be ready to respond to threats to the homeland, wherever and whenever they may arise. The last thing our brave men and women in uniform need to be worrying about is whether they will get a paycheck, and whether their families are taken care of back home.”
