Proposed State Budget Cuts Harm the UW and Higher Education
On Monday, both chambers of the Washington State Legislature released their proposed budgets. Both proposals include significant cuts to 4-year institutions – a short-sighted approach at a time of economic uncertainty. With the UW providing more than $21 billion in economic impact to the state annually, we need to keep the “public” in public higher education.
These cuts harm the UW and its students by:
Slashing state support for faculty and staff compensation by $18.6 million in FY27 and leaving the fully-enrolled UW to find this funding elsewhere.
Restricting access to the Washington College Grant, reducing critical financial aid for the middle class.
Imposing across-the-board cuts to all four-year institutions, with the Senate proposing a 1% cut ($4.5 million annually for UW) and the House proposing a 2% cut ($10.3 million annually).
These cuts could be a major setback for Washington’s students, faculty, and institutions—limiting access and undermining the state’s commitment to higher education. We must act now.
Tell your legislators: Washington students should not bear the brunt of the budget deficit. Investing in higher education is investing in our state’s future. Ask lawmakers to restore state support for faculty and staff compensation to current levels and protect the Washington College Grant. Our students need our voices now.