If you call Social Security these days, the voice message states your application could take 200-230 days to process and Alaskans now have to appear in person (Anchorage, Fairbanks or Juneau) if unable to apply online. Veteran’s services will be further challenged after the firing of over 80,000 VA staff, many of whom were veterans. Health and Social Services is firing more than 5,000 probationary employees. The IRS is laying off thousands of probationary workers in the middle of tax season. The National Park Service is already reinstating many of the people recently fired in advance of tourist season.

With Trump-induced national and international chaos, I was anxious to hear from Alaska’s senators visiting Juneau this week for their annual legislative addresses. The contrast was startling.

While in town, Sen. Murkowski met with Alaskans — from fishers to federal workers to groups of concerned citizens — in back-to-back meetings. Sen. Sullivan stated it was “arrogant” for Alaskans to expect him to show up to town halls and justified his legislative presentation as the “ultimate town hall” rather than face constituents, although he did find time for a $100-a-plate fundraiser. (Note to Mr. Sullivan: the public, not the Legislature, elected you and the public will decide your future fate.)

Sen. Murkowski commented that in 23 years of serving Alaskans she’s never seen anything like the bedlam currently in D.C., and reconfirmed her commitment to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Meanwhile, Sen. Sullivan spent an hour mansplaining how thoughtless mass firings, random budget cuts and abandoning our allies and border neighbors was justifiable because the administration is “working hard.”

Sen. Murkowski welcomed hard questions from both constituents and the press, vocally standing up to the chaos perpetrated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and continued to express support for Ukraine and our allies. Sen. Sullivan admitted Russia started the war with Ukraine, but when questioned by Rep. Gray-Jackson about “whiplash-inducing change in foreign policy” he glossed over Trump’s bipolar approach to Ukraine, failing to mention our border neighbors entirely.

Sen. Murkowski definitively advocated for finding efficiency in government in a methodical, thoughtful manner while not leaving a DOGE trail of children, women, seniors and veterans in its wake. Sen. Sullivan urged Alaskans to submit a complaint form through his website so he could determine, case by case, the appropriateness of DOGE actions. While sounding nicely personal, managing a constituent’s issue one mistake at a time because of an onslaught of preventable errors is a ludicrously poor use of a senator’s time. Why not simply demand that agencies fix what is broken and work for Americans?

DOGE has engaged in helter-skelter shutdowns of entire agencies, firing probationary employees with no due process and no good reason, gained access to our private information with unvetted staff, abruptly closed and denied public access to government offices with no alternative plan, and generally created an atmosphere of fear and chaos. Only the most callous among us could applaud these random acts of cruelty impacting the entire nation.

Being told to fill out a handy form on a senator’s website is insulting after your Social Security has been cancelled, your IFQ permit is on hold because of lack of staffing, or your cancer treatment has been suddenly cut off. The rule of law prevents many of these actions without due process so much of the damage will be reversed in court. But at what cost? Acting in direct conflict with the federal government and the separation of powers, DOGE is violating the Constitution. The Constitution calls for Senate confirmation of unelected officials who are given broad powers. Would even a cowering Congressional majority confirm Elon Musk now?

Everyone heartily agrees that finding efficiency in government is a reasonable goal that can be implemented thoughtfully and methodically but DOGE’s random, fear-inducing methods are destructive and, most importantly, have not and will not result in greater efficiency — only more public turmoil and judicial intervention. None of which serves Alaskans or Americans.

I am immensely grateful to Alaska’s woman senator for standing up for all of us and persisting in calling for actions congruent with the rule of law and U.S. Constitution.

• Deborah Craig, a 43-year resident of Alaska, is a fiscal conservative and social liberal.