United States to Pay $180 Million to Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska to Resolve Long-Running Port Litigation that began in 2014

Today, the United States and the Municipality of Anchorage announced the resolution of Municipality of Anchorage v. United States, No. 14-166C (U.S. Court of Federal Claims), which has been pending since 2014. Under the settlement agreement, the United States will make a payment of $180 million to the Municipality in exchange for concluding this decade-long litigation against the United States for its alleged fault in the uncompleted Port of Alaska expansion project.

"I was honored to visit the Port of Alaska today to announce this settlement," said Acting Attorney General Blanche. "Reaching this fair and reasonable resolution allows both parties to move beyond many years of litigation and instead focus on what matters most: modernizing and beautifying the Port of Alaska, while lowering costs for consumers."

The settlement reflects the parties' shared recognition that continued litigation would consume substantial public resources while delaying the opportunity to focus on the Port of Alaska's future. Rather than lingering on the past, both parties will instead collaborate and prioritize how the port may best benefit both Alaska and the United States. By ending this long-running litigation, both the United States and the Municipality can redirect time, attention, and taxpayer resources toward their respective public missions rather than continued courtroom proceedings.

"Settlements such as this one reflect a reasoned judgment that certainty and public resource conservation are of greater value than another decade of litigation, which would detract from taxpayer resources and personnel focusing on the Department's top priorities," said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. "Bringing this litigation to a close also creates a welcomed opportunity for collaboration among federal, state, and local partners to better support the long-term functionality and economic vitality of the Port of Alaska for the benefit of the American people."

Today's resolution allows both parties to shift their attention toward ensuring that the Port of Alaska continues to meet the needs of Alaska's residents, businesses, and U.S. military installations for decades to come.