Nearly all of Montana’s federal delegation visited the state Capitol in Helena Monday. Republican Senator Tim Sheehy along with Representatives Ryan Zinke and Troy Downing approved of President Donald Trump’s swift action in addressing a number of issues important to the administration including huge slashes to federal expenditures and the federal workforce.
As part of President Donald Trump’s push to cut government spending across the seven ranger districts that comprise the Custer Gallatin National Forest as of Monday there were at least 32 terminations. As a result just three full-time employees remain in both the Yellowstone and Bozeman ranger districts to manage 19 rental cabins 60 bathrooms 21 campgrounds and other infrastructure spread across 1 million acres. Every trails and recreation program has been dismantled and there’s no one left to take care of any of it.
Agencies on Aging across the state that work to address the needs of older Montanans at a local level may face service cuts despite a growing demand. While federal funding has increased to somewhat keep pace with inflation state funding has not. There are nine Agencies on Aging in Montana that vary in size and service. Some are run by county departments while others operate through non-profits. Without additional funds their programs are in jeopardy.
Investigations into state Senator Jason Ellsworth are now in front of the Department of Justice. The Republican from Hamilton is accused of agreeing to a deal with a contractor worth more than 170-thousand dollars and splitting the contract to avoid competitive bidding. It comes after the Senate voted to send the ethics investigation to the DOJ with some lawmakers arguing they wanted to focus on other matters.
Since 2022 Montana has been awarded over one and a half billion dollars in federal funds to upgrade infrastructure and address environmental pollution. Now though because of the Trump administration’s freezing of money for projects that had been awarded funding the jobs of small business contractors and conservation organizations in Montana are in limbo. The money was earmarked for a wide array of things all tied into two massive packages of legislation under former President Joe Biden.
Moderates seized control of the Montana state Senate during an after-dark floor session Monday in a power flex signaling their dissatisfaction with the Senate’s pace of business under Republican President Matt Regier. The late-night floor session on Presidents Day also came after the Legislature’s primary bill to renew Medicaid expansion House Bill 245 narrowly passed a Senate committee by a 6 to 5 tally Monday.
Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell has received a $1 million grant from the Gianforte Family Foundation for its Early Learning Center construction project. The grant will be used for site work including expansion of the septic system and parking lots in addition to new vehicle pick-up and drop-off areas. The new Early Learning Center is anticipated to open in the fall of 2026.
New U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy has staffed most of the offices around Montana formerly occupied by his predecessor Jon Tester. The exception is the Missoula office which was closed at the recommendation of the Sergeant at Arms due to security concerns. For many years Tester had his office in downtown Missoula in the Florence building.
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks is asking for public input on a potential project that would place nearly 53,000 acres of private timberland in northwest Montana under a conservation easement. FWP has published a draft environmental assessment that outlines the proposed second phase of the project named the Montana Great Outdoors Conservation Easement.
The Yellowstone Art Museums annual art auction will take place Saturday March 8th in Billings. That night at a gala 22 works of art will be handed off to the highest bidder in an auction presided over by Kevin Doyle managing director of the Jackson Hole Art Auction.
