Denali Commission

The Denali Commission is a federal agency in the US based in Anchorage, Alaska that provides critical utilities, infrastructure, and economic support throughout Alaska.[1]

History

It was established in 1998 by the Denali Commission Act of 1998 which was part of an omnibus appropriations bill.[2][3] Since 2015, it has been assisting Alaskan communities whose existence is threatened by rising sea levels caused by climate change.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

As of 2019, it has a budget of over $46 million.[10]

In 2025, with the election of Donald Trump as President, the newly proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted the Denali Commission and the other six regional commissions for elimination from the federal budget.[11]

Governance

Modeled on the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Denali Commission is led by a Federal Co-Chair. Unlike similar commissions, the Federal Co-Chair for the Denali Commission is appointed by the Secretary of Commerce rather than by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.[12] As a single state commission, its state co-chair is the Governor of Alaska. The remaining membership consists of the University of Alaska president; the Alaska Municipal League president; the Alaska Federation of Natives president; the Alaska State AFL-CIO president; and the Associated General Contractors of Alaska president.[12]

See also

• Appalachian Regional Commission, a similar federal-state partnership in Appalachia
• Delta Regional Authority, a similar federal-state partnership in the Mississippi Delta region
• List of micro-regional organizations
• Northern Border Regional Commission, a similar federal-state partnership consisting of areas of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont along the Canada–United States border.
• Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
• Tennessee Valley Authority

References

1. "Denali Commission". Usa.gov. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
2. Denali Commission Act of 1998 105-277, 42 USC 3121 (PDF). United States Congress. October 21, 1998. pp. 620–642. Archived August 23, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
3. Rachel Waldholz (17 April 2018). "At crucial moment, Denali Commission faces leadership gap". Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
4. Rein, Lisa. "The Little Commission That Could Barely Save Itself is Now Helping Save Alaska from Climate Change". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
5. Waldholz, Rachel (23 March 2018). "Congress poised to approve $15M for village relocation in Alaska". Alaska's Energy Desk, KTOO. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
6. newsengin (23 May 2018). "Federal fund injection boosts effort to relocate Newtok". Alaska Journal.
7. Waldholz, Rachel; Anchorage, Alaska's Energy Desk- (17 April 2018). "At crucial moment, Denali Commission faces leadership gap". Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
8. Tetpon, Native Nation By John (10 January 2019). "University of Alaska climate change office says warmer weather will cost state millions". The Anchorage Press. Archived from the original on 2019-01-10. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
9. "Federal agency commits $22 million to help erosion-threatened village move". Anchorage Daily News. 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
10. "USAspending.gov". USAspending.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2019-07-14.
11. Mena, Alec (2025-01-02). "Ending Regional Commissions: A Prime Cut for DOGE". Citizens Against Government Waste. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
12. Cecire, Michael H. (April 29, 2021). "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function". Congressional Research Service. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.

External links

• Official website