Alaska Governor Dunleavy’s Administrative Orders Enhance Government Efficiency and Promote Regulatory Reform

Earlier this week, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued Administrative Orders No. 359 and No. 360—two transformative directives that set new standards for state-level governance. These orders reflect a principled commitment to limited government, transparency, and economic opportunity. 

Administrative Order No. 359: Streamlining Government for Alaskans 

Administrative Order No. 359 mandates an annual Government Efficiency Review across all executive branch agencies. Led by the Office of Management and Budget, this review will identify cost-saving opportunities, modernize operations, and recommend services that can be contracted out to improve delivery and reduce overhead. The order also requires the publication of agency-level grant data, ensuring Alaskans know where their money is going and why. 

Administrative Order No. 360: Cutting Red Tape and Shining Light on Guidance 

Even more groundbreaking is Administrative Order No. 360, which tackles a regulatory system that too often stifles innovation and burdens citizens. The order directs agencies to review all existing regulations, guidance documents, and materials incorporated by reference to identify provisions that are outdated, redundant, or unclear. Agencies must then propose revisions or repeals and reduce regulatory requirements by 15 percent by the end of 2026 and 25 percent by the end of 2027. Alaska’s red tape reduction mirrors recent efforts enacted in Alabama, Indiana, and Virginia.  

Crucially, the order also addresses the misuse and lack of transparency of guidance documents—long called “regulatory dark matter.” Under the new directive, agencies may not issue guidance unless the Department of Law verifies it does not require formal rulemaking. Further, all guidance must be posted publicly on the Alaska Online Public Notice System, making Alaska the first state in the nation to mandate transparency for guidance documents.  

The transparency directive for guidance mirrors AFP’s model legislation, the Guidance Out of Darkness Act, which calls for guidance documents to be published on state agency websites. As outlined in the Right On Transparency Coalition’s model policy, guidance documents often carry the force of law without undergoing the scrutiny of public comment or legislative oversight. Governor Dunleavy’s order temporarily ensures that Alaskans can see and challenge these quasi-regulatory mandates. Despite the positive steps forward, the legislature should take steps to make guidance transparency permanent. 

A Model for the Nation 

Governor Dunleavy’s actions are more than just good governance—they’re a blueprint for other states. By combining fiscal discipline with regulatory reform, Alaska is proving that it’s possible to reduce the size and scope of government while enhancing its effectiveness. But these reforms should be the beginning—not the end—of a broader transformation. To truly institutionalize accountability, Alaska should codify guidance transparency into law and adopt proven reforms like sunset provisions, REINS-style legislative oversight, and regulatory budgeting.