WFSE: “NO to higher ed closures and cuts”

Supplemental budget proposals under consideration in the State Legislature would cut funding for higher education

The following is from WFSE:

OLYMPIA, WA (February 27, 2026) — The House and Senate released their budgets this week. Both budgets include a 1.5% across-the-board cuts to higher education funding. More concerning is a proviso in the House budget that asks for a recommendation to close at least one community college or technical college by November 1 of this year.

Our schools make our state more resilient, and they are a key driver of Washington’s economic growth. Enrollment is increasing. The last thing we need are cuts and closures. Washington’s colleges are essential — to our economy, to students, and to our communities. But they are only as strong as the state’s commitment to fund them.

Here’s a breakdown of the cuts being floated in the three proposed supplemental budgets:

• Governor Ferguson’s budget: Cuts 3% from UW and WSU, and 1.5% from all other public higher‑ed institutions.
• House and Senate budgets: Each imposes 1.5% cuts across the entire higher‑education system. In some good news, both budgets undo some of the disproportionate cuts to The Evergreen State College that were enacted in 2025.

WFSE-represented workers at Evergreen State College. Photo: WFSE

Cutting public services doesn’t work. During the Great Recession, states that made cuts to their public workforce took longer to recover and experienced deeper job loss in both the public and private sectors. That’s especially true in Washington state, where our highly educated workforce and world‑class research institutions have been a driver of economic growth.

• The University of Washington alone generates $21 billion annually for the state economy.
• WSU contributes another $4 billion.
• Community and technical colleges strengthen regional economies by preparing students for in‑demand, good‑paying jobs.

WFSE Local 1400 member, WFSE Council Secretary and Lower Columbia College IT employee Tracy Stanley puts it plainly: “Every dollar cut has a negative multiplier effect, reducing local output, household income, and employment in the area.”

TAKE A STAND: WFSE is asking for labor siblings support to prevent closures. Tell Lawmakers No to Higher Ed Closures and Cuts.