Arkansas
The Impact Project synthesizes publicly available data about the impacts of government change.
State Dashboards provide a snapshot of impacts to states, including the size of the federal workforce, federal dollars, a profile of probationary workers, and impacts to federal programs.
Dashboards will change as the data does, and you may find areas that need updating. Please reach out via [email protected] if you would like to support our work, share data, or provide feedback.
Click here to download state data.
Federal Workforce in Arkansas
Total Workforce
1,376,006
Federal Workforce
14,333
Probationary Federal Workforce
3,802
Sources: OPM.gov (Mar. '24); Census.gov (Dec '24); BLS.gov (Feb. '24)
Federal Funding & State Revenue
Historically, federal dollars have accounted for about a quarter to a third of state revenue. The COVID-19 Pandemic increased those numbers. Approximately 35.47% of the State's 2019 budget came from federal funding, and 42.03% of 2022's budget.
Sources: Pew Trusts; Census.gov; NBER.gov
Summary of State Dots
| Action | Arkansas Stories |
|---|---|
| Defense | 3 |
| Economy & Employment | 4 |
| Education | 3 |
| Emergency Services, Public Safety & Law Enforcement | 1 |
| Energy | 7 |
| Food & Agriculture | 7 |
| Housing | 1 |
| Humanities & the Arts | 2 |
| Infrastructure | 3 |
| International Development | 18 |
| Natural Resources, Environment & Public Lands | 12 |
| Overarching | 5 |
| Public Health & Healthcare | 19 |
| Research & Academic Research | 3 |
| Social Services | 16 |
| Total | 104 |
Sources: theimpactproject.org
Last Updated: 4/20/25
DOGE Data Summary
According to DOGE data, 6 contracts, 39 grants and 15 leases have been terminated in Arkansas.
Source: https://doge.gov/savings
Top Federal Occupations in Arkansas
This table provides a snapshot of federal occupations in this state. Click here for descriptions of these occupations.
Probationary employees include those employed by a federal agency for a year or less by March, 2024. For some agencies, the probationary period last longer (2-3yrs). In most cases, the probationary period restarts when a worker is promoted.
| Occupation | Total Employees | Probationary Employees |
|---|---|---|
| NURSE | 1693 | 208 |
| MEDICAL SUPPORT ASSISTANCE | 648 | 112 |
| MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM | 418 | 31 |
| MISCELLANEOUS CLERK AND ASSISTANT | 383 | 62 |
| MEDICAL OFFICER | 350 | 33 |
| GENERAL NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES | 321 | 14 |
| SOCIAL WORK | 318 | 59 |
| CONSUMER SAFETY INSPECTION | 290 | 22 |
| INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT | 290 | 22 |
| SOCIAL INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION | 269 | 7 |
Sources: OPM.gov (2024)
Top Federal Employers in State
| State | Agency | Non-probationary | Probationary | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AR | Department Of Veterans Affairs | 5985 | 978 | 6963 |
| AR | Department Of The Army | 2061 | 182 | 2243 |
| AR | Department Of Agriculture | 1471 | 209 | 1680 |
| AR | Department Of The Air Force | 730 | 132 | 862 |
| AR | Department Of Health And Human Services | 460 | 26 | 486 |
Sources: OPM.gov
Impacted Funding for Food Programs
This summarizes cuts from only a few of the food-related programs impacted by funding changes since January 2025.
The LFS program awards money to states to buy local foods for schools and childcare institutions, and the LFPA program provides funding for state, tribal and territorial governments to buy food produced within the state or within 400 miles of delivery destinations. Both programs have been cancelled.
| State, Tribe, or Territory | Local Food for Schools (FY25) | Local Food Purchase Cooperative Agreement (FY25) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $8,476,635 | $3,585,120 |
Source: https://www.usaspending.gov/
Top 5 Counties with Federal Workers
| County | Federal Employees |
|---|---|
| Pulaski County | 10052 |
| Washington County | 2566 |
| Jefferson County | 1184 |
| Sebastian County | 958 |
| St. Francis County | 581 |
Sources: BLS.gov
Potentially Impacted Federal Programs
In Arkansas, several federally supported social programs play a significant role in assisting residents. These programs collectively form a crucial safety net for many Arkansans, addressing needs related to nutrition, healthcare, financial support, housing, and early childhood education. Examples include:
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Medicaid
- Child Care and Early Learning Programs
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- Single Family Housing Repairs Loans and Grants
Due to federal budget cuts in 2025, some of these programs have already been impacted, and others may be impacted in the future.
State Map
- Rural Counties
- Indigenous Lands
- Majority Non-White
- Poverty Rate >= 20%
- 0 - 4,000
- 4,000 - 7,000
- 7,000 - 10,000
- 10,000 - 15,000
- 15,000 - 25,000
- 25,000 - 35,000
- 35,000 - 50,000
- >50,000
- 0 - 50
- 50 - 100
- 100 - 250
- 250 - 500
- 500 - 1,000
- 1,000 - 5,000
- 5,000 - 10,000
- >10,000
- Statewide Impact
- Location-Specific
Future Analysis
Check back for deeper dives into this data, including consideration of these questions:
- How do these changes impact local and state economies?
- How are local and state governments, NGOs, and businesses responding to federal changes? What gaps are they filling, and what gaps remain?
- How is federal government change evolving over time?
Download Full Data Set
Access a comprehensive Excel file containing all the data shown on this page. This downloadable resource is ideal for further analysis, reporting, or presentations.
"My remedy, I just want to be back working for the VA again...I was empowered in that role, and I was able to help not only the employees but also the veterans." - Anonymous