Washington State University (WSU) has approved budget cuts during a special board meeting held on Thursday. The core operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year will see a reduction of approximately 4%, amounting to a total decrease of $17 million. This decision stems from various factors, including reduced state and federal funding, declining enrollment numbers, and increased costs due to inflation.

WSU Chief Financial Officer Leslie Brunelli informed the regents that layoffs are anticipated, although specifics regarding job reductions will be determined by individual university departments over the next month. The cuts will not be uniform across the university; some colleges and departments will maintain their spending, while others may face budget reductions of up to 10%.

Notable recent financial adjustments include the closure of the WSU Pullman Chancellor’s Office by new President Betsy Cantwell. Additionally, the regents have decided to revert faculty raises to a merit-based system, which has not been implemented at WSU for the past decade. A voluntary retirement incentive was also approved to help achieve further savings.

The meeting marked a significant moment, as it is believed to be the first occasion that the WSU Regents have officially approved the university’s budget.

The core operating budget for WSU’s Fiscal Year 2026 is set at $661 million.

In conjunction with these budget cuts, reductions were also made to Cougar Athletics, with the FY26 spending plan decreasing by around $3 million to a total of $74.4 million. Regent Marty Dickinson opposed the cuts to athletics, expressing her concerns during the meeting.