WSU Regents Approve Budget Cuts Which Include Layoffs

PULLMAN, WA – Washington State University budget cuts were approved by the regents during their special board meeting on Thursday.

The next fiscal year WSU core operating budget is being cut by about 4% totaling a 17 million dollar spending reduction. The cuts are driven by dropping state and federal funding along with declining enrollment and higher costs due to inflation.

WSU CFO Leslie Brunelli told the regents that there will be layoffs. Details on the job cuts still need to be finalized by individual university units over the next month. The cuts are not across the board as some colleges and departments are maintaining spending while others must cut their budget by up to 10%.

Brunelli cited recent notable spending reductions like new President Betsy Cantwell’s closure of the WSU Pullman Chancellor’s Office. She also told the board that faculty raises will return to a merit based system which hasn’t been done at WSU for ten years. A new voluntary retirement incentive was also approved by the regents on Thursday to save money.

It was highlighted during the meeting that this is believed to be the first time that the WSU Regents have approved the university’s budget. You can listen to Chair Lisa Schauer comment on this historic vote with the file below.

WSU’s Fiscal Year 2026 core operating budget is at 661 million dollars.

The regents also approved cuts to Cougar Athletics. The FY26 spending plan is down about three million dollars to 74.4 million dollars. There was one no vote on the Cougar Athletics budget. Regent Marty Dickinson argued against cutting spending for athletics. You can listen to her comments below.

WSU’s 2026 fiscal year starts July 1st.