PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners are sending a letter to federal legislators detailing the local impacts of actions taken by the Trump administration.
The letter, sent to Sens. Patty Murray, D-Seattle, and Maria Cantwell, D-Edmonds, and Rep. Emily Randall, D-Bremerton, at their request, lays out potential impacts to the economy, jobs, industries, healthcare and more.
“Our community is feeling the impact of all that is happening in Washington, D.C.,” it read. “We send this letter both as an encouragement to continue doing what you are able, and to sound a warning about the devastating local impacts we expect to see from the continued dismantling of our federal government.”
Seventeen and a half percent of Clallam County’s 2025 budget is funded through federal grants, county Chief Financial Officer Mark Lane said during a March work session. And, while most of the federal funding pauses have been rescinded or are under court injunction, he said the county is continuing to monitor any federal actions that could impact that funding.
Economically, the county already is experiencing decreased tourism from Victoria due to the “economic and territorial threats being levied against Canada,” the letter stated.
“As relations between our two countries continue to be difficult, we can anticipate deep negative economic impacts to a variety of local businesses from restaurants and hotels to tour guides and visitor services,” it read.
Olympic National Park, a large draw for visitors, also has been forced to reduce staffing at a time in which it was “already lagging in its ability to keep up with basic maintenance,” the letter stated.
Additionally, the $80 million allocated by Congress to rebuild the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge is no longer certain, according to the letter.
Forest Service staffing reductions also will have an impact, likely in the realm of wildfire safety efforts, the letter stated.
The letter also addressed potential impacts to the marine research field, noting that the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary’s sole staff scientist and a community outreach and education employee were fired in February.
“We share a deep concern around the indiscriminate firing of these professionals,” the letter read.
Additionally, the letter asked the legislators to “do all that you are able to maintain the funding and staffing necessary to see that veterans’ needs are met.”
In the realm of healthcare, cuts to Medicaid “will be devastating to this community,” the letter read, given that more than 20 percent of Peninsula adults and 37 percent of children rely on the insurance program. Additionally, the county has been working to bill Medicaid for certain services provided at the county jail.
“If we are unable to move forward with this program, then local taxpayers will continue to shoulder the entire burden of providing appropriate health care to incarcerated individuals,” the letter stated.
The letter then highlighted the commissioners’ concerns related to the federal government’s integrity and its agencies.
“The disregard for these agencies, their staff members and their missions is already impacting our entire community,” the letter read. “Should the Administration be allowed to disregard the rule of law, it will have disastrous consequences for our community and our democracy. We join with all of those in our county who are concerned about the short- and long-term consequences of this Administration’s unpredictable actions.”
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Reporter Emma Maple can be reached by email at emma.maple@peninsuladailynews.com.
