1. United States
2. Alaska
3. Letter

As an Alaskan, a staff member at our state’s largest university, and your constituent, I am deeply concerned about the harmful impact of President Trump’s executive orders dismantling Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives—especially on students in Anchorage and across Alaska. These policies are not just federal overreach; they actively harm the students who need support the most. Anchorage has the three most diverse high schools in the U.S. Our students are immigrants, first-generation college attendees, Alaska Natives, and members of underrepresented communities. The message being sent to them is clear: You don’t belong. You don’t matter. That message is dangerous. It discourages students, undermines their success, and erodes hope. DEI programs provide essential resources—scholarships, mentoring, academic support, and housing assistance. Removing them doesn’t improve education; it isolates and demoralizes students who already face systemic barriers. This attack isn’t about fairness—it’s about control. The president is holding federal funding hostage to impose his personal grievances on universities and communities. The consequences are severe: • Scholarships revoked. In Minnesota, federal grants for teacher training were cut, worsening teacher shortages. The same could happen here. • Housing options eliminated. At the University of Iowa, culturally focused living-learning communities were shut down. If this happens in Alaska, students—especially those from rural areas—will lose vital support. • Research and programs frozen. The National Science Foundation has halted 40,000 research grants over DEI-related language reviews, disrupting jobs, innovation, and progress. DEI initiatives, rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, were designed to ensure equal opportunity. Their removal doesn’t create a level playing field—it makes institutions less accountable, less diverse, and less effective. Alaskans value independence, fairness, and opportunity. These executive orders violate those values. I urge you to: • Publicly oppose the dismantling of DEI programs. • Support state and local DEI initiatives that protect Alaskan students. • Demand transparency from federal agencies on how these orders impact scholarships, research, and funding. We cannot let the federal government weaponize funding against students. We cannot stand by while a radical minority dictates policies that harm the very people we are meant to serve. Please, show leadership. Take action. Alaska’s students—and our future—depend on it.