Re: “The White House seeks sharp spending cuts in Trump’s 2026 budget plan” (May 2, Nation):
President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget includes significant cuts to U.S. research and development, threatening decades of scientific progress and Washington’s future in innovation. I urge Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to reject these shortsighted cuts and protect our state’s research ecosystem.
My small business conducts plasma physics research and develops new power systems. We transform fundamental science into practical solutions for semiconductor manufacturing, clean energy technologies, aerospace and defense. Federal grants from the Department of Energy, Department of Defense and NASA help enable this work. Without this support, we cannot continue introducing new innovations to these industries.
Over the past five years, Washington-based startups, including ours, have received more than $175 million in federal funding, fueling tech development, job growth and talent retention.
These proposed cuts would also shrink the future scientific and engineering workforce. Washington’s universities receive over $300 million annually from federal research grants, which fund student research and train the next generation of scientists and engineers. Cutting this pipeline would damage Washington’s long-term economic strength and global competitiveness.
Our economy, energy leadership and national security depend on robust, sustained investment in science and innovation. Sens. Murray and Cantwell should reject this budget proposal.
James Prager, Seattle
