California’s public higher education institutions have been on edge for months, preparing for substantial state funding cuts that could result in reduced student services, course offerings, and enrollment. In Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January budget proposal, the two systems were facing $771 million in cuts. Faculty, students, and staff gathered in Sacramento to urge lawmakers to protect the state’s higher education systems, warning that the proposed cuts would be “catastrophic” and have a “profound impact” on education. This would be in addition to hundreds of millions in cuts to federal research and other grants ordered by the Trump administration.
Governor Newsom’s revised budget proposal provided a bit of relief for educators, revealing an additional $12 billion state budget shortfall next year due to overspending exacerbated by President Trump’s tariffs. The revised budget aimed to lessen the blow to higher education, reducing cuts by more than half. The proposed cut to the University of California decreased from $397 million in January to $130 million four months later, representing a 3% year-to-year budget cut. Similarly, the budget cut for California State University dropped from $375 million in January to $144 million, also a 3% reduction.
The revised budget was met with some optimism, with UC President Michael V. Drake noting that it was a significant improvement from the January budget. The budget proposal aimed to minimize cuts to essential student support services and preserve critical investments such as affordable student housing construction. However, the budget is not set in stone, with negotiations ongoing until June 15, the deadline for the Legislature to pass its budget before the governor approves it. Despite the moment of relief, both university systems have implemented austerity measures in anticipation of looming state budget cuts and federal funding reductions, with potential further cuts looming due to Trump administration investigations.
