NPPC Highlight
Modernization or Monetization: 2026 Pension Opposition Watch
Who profits when public pensions are weakened? Our latest blog by NPPC Executive Director, Kendal Killian, takes a closer look at the financial firms, policy networks, and industry-backed groups working to undermine defined benefit pensions under the cover of “choice” and “modernization.” Public workers deserve the real thing, not a risky substitute.
State News
Retirement Security at Center of Alaska Workforce Debate
As debate continues over restoring Alaska’s public pension system, an opinion piece in the Anchorage Daily News argued this week that the state’s ongoing staffing crisis is closely tied to the loss of secure retirement benefits for public workers. Heidi Drygas, executive director of the Alaska State Employees Association, writes that Alaska has struggled for years to recruit and retain workers after eliminating defined benefit pensions for new hires in 2006, contributing to high vacancy rates, burnout, service backlogs, and costly turnover. She points to HB 78, which would create a modest shared-risk pension plan, as a key step toward rebuilding the public workforce and restoring reliable state services. Secure retirement benefits are not just good for workers; they are essential to recruitment, retention, and the long-term strength of public services.
NPPC is actively working with the Alaska Public Pension Coalition as the fight for HB 78 continues. Check back weekly for new developments.
Fix Tier 6 Advocates Emphasize Fairness for Younger Workers
As momentum continues to build in New York around the fight to Fix Tier 6, a new letter to the editor, from social studies teacher Michael Burke, argues that reform is ultimately a matter of fairness for younger public employees. Responding to criticism of the campaign, Burke pushes back on claims that improving Tier 6 would be an unaffordable giveaway, instead arguing that the current system forces newer workers to pay more, work longer, and receive less than colleagues hired just a few years earlier. He also makes the broader case that weakening retirement benefits has real workforce consequences, especially in education, where recruitment and retention challenges are already straining schools.
Global Conflict Raises New Economic Risks
The International Monetary Fund is warning that the war in the Middle East could drag down global economic growth, push inflation higher, and create new risks for economies worldwide. In its latest outlook, the IMF lowered its global growth forecast and said continued disruption to energy markets could worsen conditions, with oil prices already climbing above $100 a barrel and broader commodity costs rising as well. The fund cautioned that even if the conflict is short-lived, the economic damage is already rippling outward through higher energy costs, weaker consumer purchasing power, and the potential for higher interest rates.
Why does this matter?
When inflation rises and economic growth slows, public pension systems can face a tougher environment. Higher inflation increases pressure on retirees and can intensify demands for cost-of-living adjustments, while weaker markets and economic uncertainty can affect investment returns. At the same time, slower growth can squeeze state and local budgets, making it harder for governments to balance competing priorities while continuing to meet their pension obligations.
Be sure to check back next Friday for the latest news in the fight for a secure retirement! For now, sign up for NPPC News Clips to receive daily pension news from across the country directly to your inbox.