President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a 2026 budget proposal that would slash non-defense discretionary spending by $163 billion — a 22% cut from current levels — while boosting defense and homeland security budgets by more than $375 billion combined.
The plan calls for major reductions across a wide range of domestic agencies, targeting education, housing, public health, scientific research, and environmental protection.
The Department of Education would face a $12 billion cut—approximately a 15% decrease from current funding levels—eliminating a wide range of programs that support low-income, first-generation, and nontraditional students. Targeted for elimination are TRIO and GEAR UP college access programs, Federal Work-Study, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. These cuts would reduce financial aid, academic support, and campus-based job opportunities for millions of students. The proposal also shifts funding to states via block grants, reduces federal oversight, and expands support for charter schools and private school alternatives.
Rental assistance would be cut by 40%, with the administration proposing to phase out Section 8 housing vouchers and transfer responsibility for housing aid to the states. The plan also eliminates longstanding federal programs like the Community Development Block Grant and the HOME Investment Partnerships, which support affordable housing and local development projects. In addition, the proposal would eliminate funding for fair housing enforcement, including the Fair Housing Initiatives Program and cuts to the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, weakening federal oversight of housing discrimination.
The Department of Health and Human Services would see a $33.3 billion cut, including the full elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant. Reductions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health could jeopardize disease research, pandemic preparedness, and mental health services.
Federal research funding would be significantly reduced. The NIH faces an 18% cut — about $18 billion — threatening clinical trials and rare disease studies. The National Science Foundation would see its budget halved, while the Environmental Protection Agency’s research branch would be largely dismantled. Climate and environmental science programs are among those slated for termination.
The EPA’s overall budget would be cut by more than 50%. Alongside the rollback of research functions, the proposal would eliminate environmental justice grants, climate resilience funding, and pollution reduction initiatives.
Taken together, the cuts represent a fundamental reshaping of the federal government’s role in everyday life, shifting responsibility for key services to state and local governments with fewer resources. While the administration frames the budget as a push for efficiency and local control, opponents warn it would hollow out the public safety net and deepen disparities across the country.
“This budget proposal would set our country back decades by decimating investments to help families afford the basics, to keep communities safe, and to ensure America remains the world leader in innovation and lifesaving research,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Presidential budget proposals are non-binding, but they serve as frameworks for congressional negotiations, which must conclude before the current funding agreement expires on Sept. 30.
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The suit challenges Executive Order 14210, which plaintiffs say unlawfully restructures agencies like HHS, HUD, and EPA without congressional approval; they seek to halt its implementation on constitutional grounds.
Without a new contract, patients could face full out-of-pocket costs at UW hospitals and clinics, including Harborview and UW Medical Center.
Defendants can avoid jail by completing treatment steps, passing drug tests, and staying arrest-free for 60 days to qualify for case dismissal.
Shots fired incidents fell 37% from the same period last year, reaching their lowest first-quarter levels since 2021, according to the Q1 Shots Fired Report.
The lawsuit argues federal funding freezes, office closures, and a ban on DEI efforts violate congressional authority and threaten to dismantle the long-running preschool program for low-income families.
Mayor Harrell and Chief Barnes cite incentives, streamlined timelines, and improved morale for reversing years of staffing shortfalls.
The iconic Pike Place restaurant will remain open after the market’s governing authority rescinded its eviction notice and pledged to work toward a new agreement.
Washington drivers will pay an extra 6 cents per gallon at the pump starting in July, part of a $3.2 billion transportation funding package passed by the Legislature. The increase—the first in nearly a decade—raises the state gas tax to 55.4 cents per gallon and adds a 2% annual inflation adjustment. Diesel fuel taxes will also rise by six cents over the next two years.
The new revenue is aimed at closing an $8 billion shortfall driven by rising construction costs and declining gas tax receipts. Lawmakers say the money will support highway maintenance, safety projects, and compliance with court orders to remove culverts that block fish passage.
In addition to the fuel tax, the package raises fees on vehicle sales, rentals, registrations, and ferry fares. It also imposes new 8–10% luxury taxes on high-end cars, aircraft, and motorhomes worth more than $100,000 or $500,000, and increases tire fees and rental car surcharges.
Fuel tax revenue will flow to the Move Ahead WA Account, while other charges fund the Flexible Account, which supports transit service, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and ferry operations.
The transportation package now awaits Gov. Bob Ferguson’s decision, with a deadline to sign or veto the bill by May 17.
Lawmakers approved a suite of tax increases to help close Washington’s projected $16 billion shortfall. The new taxes total $4.3 billion over the next two years as part of the state’s $77.8 billion operating budget.
The largest share—$2.1 billion—comes from increases to the B&O tax. Base rates for manufacturing and wholesale firms rise to 0.5%. Large service businesses with over $5 million in revenue will pay 2.1% (up from 1.75%), and major banks will see their surcharge increase from 1.2% to 1.5%. A new 0.5% surcharge also applies to companies earning more than $250 million annually.
Sales tax will now apply to services like advertising, web design, security, temp staffing, and IT training, and certain digital exemptions will be repealed. A separate provision imposes a new tax on nicotine products, including Zyn pouches.
A 2.9% surtax will apply to capital gains over $1 million, on top of the existing 7% rate. The estate tax exemption increases to $3 million, while tax rates rise across income brackets. Combined, these changes are projected to raise $321.6 million.
The budget removes exemptions for items such as precious metal bullion and storage unit rentals, generating $148.5 million in new revenue.
A new tax on the sale of electric vehicle credits—currently affecting only Tesla—is expected to raise $54.5 million.
The tax package is now on Gov. Bob Ferguson’s desk. The governor must decide on the budget by May 17.
Projected drop in shipments at the Port of Seattle for May 2025
Port officials are estimating a steep decline in traffic as U.S.–China trade tensions escalate and shippers divert elsewhere.
The number of satellites Amazon launched into orbit this week
The launch marks the start of Amazon’s Project Kuiper — a space-based internet satellite network to rival Starlink. Full service won’t begin until hundreds more are deployed later this year.
Share of Seattle residents who say the city is headed in the right direction.
This marks a 12-point increase from the same Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce poll one year ago.
A rainy day in Ballard just got more fun thanks to the new Salmon Stroll, a sidewalk art hunt activated by moisture. Ten hidden salmon silhouettes, designed by local artist Carolyn Kurth, appear only when the pavement is wet. Participants can pick up a scorecard from the Ballard Library or Sweet Mickey’s and start sleuthing along 28th Avenue below 58th Street. Find six fish and return your card for a prize. The free event is open to all ages and runs indefinitely.
Cal Anderson Park drew hundreds on May Day as demonstrators rallied against the Trump administration’s immigration policies and broader labor issues. Protesters called for abolishing ICE, ending deportations, and defending Seattle’s status as a sanctuary city. The event featured chants, speeches, and signs targeting federal policies and corporate influence, before marchers took to the streets en route to Westlake.
After two cyclist collisions and a burst of grassroots advocacy, the city installed temporary concrete barriers at Fourth and Pine within hours of a direct appeal to SDOT leadership. The intersection, where two protected bike lanes meet near Westlake Park, lacked clear separation and signage—prompting local advocates to stage a “people protected bike lane” and confront SDOT’s interim director during a nearby bike advocacy luncheon.
The West Seattle Link Extension cleared a major milestone this week with the federal government issuing its final environmental approval, known as a Record of Decision. This allows Sound Transit to begin final design and property acquisition for the 4.1-mile light rail line connecting SODO to West Seattle. The project is expected to open in 2032, though it faces cost concerns and community opposition even as planning advances with city and federal agency support.
We just wanted to see if there was power in gardening and power in social nudity enough to make this thing go forward.
