Patty Murray

Rule Changes

Led Democratic negotiations on science funding

Congress preserved federal science budgets for 2026, rejecting President Trump's proposed cuts of 40% to 57%. The administration has kept pressing through agency actions. The National Science Foundation diverted $1.4 billion from its research account and awarded no new grants in economics or archaeology this year.

Updated Nov 3

Rule Changes

Leading critic of the proposal

The Federal Transit Administration's proposal to tie transit construction money to local birth and marriage rates is in its public comment period, which closes November 16. Corridors where both rates run more than 1% above national averages could get up to 10 extra percentage points of federal cost share.

Updated Oct 30

Money Moves

As of October 2026: Serving; secured the $10M appropriation

The federal government committed $10 million to the University of Washington in September to build a secure, on-campus AI computing platform. The NIST award funds the Husky Secure Computing Data & Infrastructure Project, which started October 1.

Updated Oct 6

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Withdrew support for DHS funding after Pretti shooting

A three-day partial government shutdown ended February 3 when the House passed a split funding package 217-214 and Trump signed it. The deal provides full-year appropriations for five agencies through September and extends DHS funding through February 13.

Updated May 23