Amidst hiring freeze, some Alaskans face uncertainty regarding their employment

Laura Wright’s first day at her new job for Denali National Park would have been February 10th.

Wright accepted the job offer back in December, and did all of the onboarding paperwork. She was only waiting on a background check to clear before walking into work.

About two weeks out, she received an email.

“It was a two- or three-line email that said that the park service could no longer offer this position at this time,” according to Wright.

The National Park Service sent many of these emails after President Donald Trump ordered a hiring freeze. It’s part of a wide-ranging initiative to reduce government spending. The initiative has been controversial, sparking numerous lawsuits.

The park service declined to comment for this story, including on questions about how many positions are affected.

“I know that there are people that think, great. Let’s trim the excesses of the government. It’s bloated,” Wright said, “Well, I don’t feel like I am a part of that bloat. I feel like I am just a hardworking person who needed a job, applied for a job, and was looking forward to working.”

Wright has worked seasonally for Denali National Park for 12 years. That’s why she was so excited to jump into the full-time role. According to Wright, jobs like hers are crucial for the parks service.

She said, “Some of these federal jobs are good jobs, and we do good things. And we protect resources and save lives and explain the flora and fauna, and that is why a lot of people come to visit Alaska.”

There are some exceptions to the hiring freeze outlined in the executive order. Jobs relating to national security or public safety can still be filled. However, they are not automatic. The park service still has bureaucratic hurdles to get around the freeze.