Alaska Congressional delegation secures exemption sparing Alaska Air National Guard from planned leveling cuts

Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola, recently welcomed news that the Alaska Air National Guard (ANG) has been granted an indefinite exemption from the Air National Guard’s “Fulltime Leveling” (FTL) initiative that would have impacted or eliminated nearly 80 Active Guard Reserve positions in Alaska.

Major General Duke A. Pirak, acting director of the Air National Guard, delivered the news in a letter to Senator Sullivan on August 20. In numerous meetings, calls and letters, the Alaska congressional delegation strongly pressed National Guard leaders to exempt Alaska from the planned cuts, highlighting the many unique missions of the Alaska ANG that are critically important to U.S. homeland defense, including missile warning, aerial refueling, and combat rescue.

“In February, I sat down and had good, open conversation with 20 of the 80 Alaska Guardsmen who were set to lose their jobs as a result of bureaucratic and political maneuvering by the Air National Guard...I made a commitment right then to fight for them, for the Alaska Guard, and for the homeland defense mission that we Alaskans are so proud to execute,” said Senator Murkowski. “Over the last six months, I have worked tirelessly to reverse these dangerous and ill-informed cuts, advocating directly with top military leadership in the National Guard and across all services.” She said that she was able to secure last minute language in the FY24 Defense Appropriations bill to ensure accountability, as well as funding in the FY25 Defense Appropriations to pay for 649 additional positions for the ANG. That along with the announcement of a permanent exemption of the ANG from the full-time leveling actions is another step in fulfilling the commitment the Senator made to them. “The ANG’s recent decision is a win not only for Alaska, but for the United States of America.”

“The exceptional men and women of the Alaska Air National Guard—and the families who support them—can rest a bit easier today now that we’ve successfully removed the threat of cuts from D.C. that would’ve negatively impacted their unique mission and their ability to defend our nation,” said Senator Sullivan.

On August 1, 2024, Senator Sullivan placed a hold on the promotion of Maj. Gen. Pirak to the rank of lieutenant general until Alaska is granted an exemption from the FTL initiative. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the senator uses targeted holds when needed to resolve major policy issues that would negatively impact military service members and U.S. national security.

“I commend Maj. Gen. Pirak and his team…for recognizing the detrimental toll these cuts would have on our Alaska-based forces and our national security readiness. More than any other state in the country, Alaska’s National Guard is fully integrated into some of the nation’s most important 24-7 missions with the Joint Force protecting our country. Alaska’s Air National Guardsmen can now continue to focus on fulfilling their wide array of critical missions: responding to state emergencies, conducting combat search-and-rescue missions, executing air and missile defense missions, supporting space domain awareness, and serving as a critical link in the defense of the American homeland.”

“This is huge news for our state and our national security,” said Representative Peltola. “Cutting Alaska’s Air National Guard would have damaged our country’s ability to project power in the Far North, reduced vital search and rescue capabilities, and pushed Alaskans who want to serve out of service to their state and their country. I was proud to work alongside our senators and the Alaska National Guard to protect these critical positions.”

In January 2024, the Air National Guard launched its “Fulltime Leveling” (FTL) initiative that would implement manpower changes nationwide beginning on October 1, 2024. In April, the Air National Guard announced it would delay the implementation of FTL actions in Alaska until at least September 30, 2025.

In June 2024, Senator Sullivan worked with New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen to secure a provision in the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would provide a minimum one-year stay on the Air National Guard Program Element Code (PEC)-leveling for any state that requests it, and require the Guard to provide the relevant congressional committees with thorough explanations and analysis for any suggested changes to unit status.