Save Science Save Lives

Fighting for State-Level Funding for Research in WA State

Washington is part of a growing national movement to build state-level solutions to federal funding instability—and we believe that there is both urgency and a viable path forward.

This legislative session marked the beginning of a major, statewide effort to protect and sustain Washington’s research ecosystem. Researchers, academic workers, and institutions from across the state, including UW, WSU, and WWU, alongside partners in the broader innovation economy, grew into a strong and expanding coalition.

Together, we took an important first step. Senate Bill 6321 was introduced and received a legislative hearing, with researchers showing up to testify and make clear what’s at stake: for life-saving research, for tens of thousands of jobs, and for Washington’s economic future.

We’ve built a strong foundation, and over the next year we will continue to grow this coalition, deepen support, and refine the proposal. We’re excited to bring this effort back in the next legislative session, ready to take the next step toward securing Washington’s leadership in research and innovation.

“Washington is well positioned — with diverse expertise from batteries to hydrogen, with budding communities like the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, with talented researchers and entrepreneurs who want to build here, and stay here. We have the chance to set a standard for clean tech that’s both competitive, and responsibly designed. But this all hinges on stable funding. Many of our companies are still nascent, and compounding instabilities are pushing them to relocate or dissolve before they mature — damage that cannot be simply reversed.”

– Dr. Rachel Woods-Robinson

Senior Scientist, University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute

“Losing funding, even for a few months or a year, has immediate and long-lasting consequences for the forests, communities, and economy of Washington. Fire does not respect political boundaries or discriminate based on income or identity. It does not matter whether we live in urban or rural areas. Continued use of one-size-fits-all approaches to forest and fire management leave us all vulnerable to negative outcomes from increasing fire activity.”

– Dr. Jenna Morris

Postdoc, Environmental and Forest Sciences

“When we undermine early-career scientists at the transition to independence, we do not just harm individuals. We weaken the biomedical research workforce. We slow progress on addiction treatment. And we waste taxpayer dollars already spent. Public health crises do not pause for administrative shifts. Scientific careers are long-term investments. If we want solutions to substance use disorder, anxiety, and mental health crises, we must sustain the pipeline of scientists trained to address them.” 

– Dr. Kasey Girven

Postdoc, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Learn more about the initiative in Washington State:

Learn more about similar initiatives across the country:

The UAW is the driving force behind significant state-level funding campaigns to counter devastating federal research budget cuts. Instead of relying solely on federal funding, these initiatives seek to establish localized, stable funding structures to protect academic jobs, and ensure the continuity of research and the economic and health benefits that flow from it.

  • In Washington State: SB 6321 would establish the Washington Institute for Scientific Advancement, which would create a state-funded research body to counter federal cuts, following a loss of over $550 million in federal funding for state institutions in 2025.

  • In California – Fund CA Science: The California Health and Science Research Bond Act (SB 895, formerly SB 607), is a $23 billion bond which would be decided by voters on the November 2026 ballot. This initiative aims to create a state-level institution to provide grants for biomedical, climate, and public health research threatened by federal cuts.

  • In Massachusetts – MA Runs on Research: The DRIVE Act, supported by Governor Maura Healey, includes a $200 million investment to fund life-saving research at institutions including the UMass system.

  • In New York State – Fund NY Science: After intense organizing by researchers and allies across New York, Governor Hochul has allocated $65 million to support the Bolstering Biotechnology Initiative (BBI) in this year’s state budget. UAW members are pushing to add an additional $100M to BBI with a focus on supporting competitive research grants and fellowships for early career researchers.