Lawmakers Move to Slash UW Funding, Pull Plug on Wyoming Public Media

The original story by Maggie Mullen for WyoFile.

Wyoming lawmakers took a sharp turn Tuesday, voting to take a big bite out of the University of Wyoming’s budget and cut off state funding for Wyoming Public Media — moves that sparked an emotional showdown inside the Capitol.

Members of the Legislature’s powerful Joint Appropriations Committee voted to cut $40 million from UW’s block grant, about 11% of the funding for the state’s only four-year public university. And that was just the start.

The committee also moved to defund Wyoming Public Media, reject funding tied to UW athletics, an energy and critical minerals initiative, a family medicine residency program, and matching dollars meant to spur private donations. Altogether, the proposed cuts add up to nearly $61 million.

The decisions came as lawmakers meet in Cheyenne this week to draft a state budget ahead of the full legislative session next month. Unlike most agencies, UW receives a lump-sum block grant from the Legislature, giving it flexibility in how it spends state dollars — a setup that’s now squarely in the crosshairs.

The $40 million cut was introduced by Rep. Ken Pendergraft, R-Sheridan, a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, a hard-line conservative bloc that took control of the House in 2024 and now holds a majority on the appropriations committee.

“There’s some reshuffling of priorities where the state should be spending money,” Pendergraft said. “When I look at the University of Wyoming, I think that’s a place where we could probably pull in the reins for a little while.”

At his suggestion, lawmakers exempted the College of Education and the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources from the cuts.

UW officials struck a cautious tone afterward.

“We are monitoring the situation very closely and acknowledge there are a lot of steps along the way before a final budget is signed into law,” UW spokesperson Chad Baldwin said.

Not everyone was on board. The debate quickly grew heated, with some lawmakers warning the cuts could have long-term consequences for the state.

“This is a crippling amount,” said Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, calling the move one that would “haunt the state.”

“This is the main university that educates our kids in Wyoming,” Driskill said. “This body is sending the message: ‘Don’t stay here. Don’t come here.'”

Supporters of the cuts framed them differently. Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, said he backed the reduction because of concerns about what’s being taught at UW.

“There are things being taught in our university that don’t align with the way of life,” he said.

That argument didn’t sway opponents. Rep. Trey Sherwood, D-Laramie, whose district includes the UW campus, said the governor already proposed a balanced budget — and the cuts weren’t about fiscal necessity.

“This is cutting for cut’s sake,” Sherwood said, adding that morale on campus is already low amid leadership turnover and Laramie’s high cost of living.

The motion passed on a voice vote, with at least two lawmakers voting no.

After the block grant vote, the committee kept going.

Lawmakers rejected funding for:

• An assistant professor tied to UW’s family medicine residency program in Casper;
• $12.5 million in matching funds designed to encourage major private donations.

“That’s the double whammy,” said Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson. “You cut the block grant and then you cut ways they can try to earn it back.”

The committee also trimmed $450,000 from a proposed critical minerals initiative aimed at research into technologies using Wyoming resources like trona and rare earth elements.

Two more motions from Pendergraft passed:

• A $6 million cut to UW athletics, tied to new NCAA rules allowing schools to pay student-athletes;
• A ban on $1.69 million in state funds flowing through UW to support Wyoming Public Media.

Pendergraft argued public broadcasting shouldn’t be funded by the state.

“It’s not the role of government,” he said, comparing public media to “Pravda,” the former Soviet propaganda newspaper.

That comparison drew pushback.

“When you say things like that, it leaves the impression you’re against it because of what they’re saying,” Gierau replied. “That’s a slippery slope.”

While UW holds Wyoming Public Media’s broadcast license, the outlet operates independently. Station leadership said the cuts would have immediate consequences.

“The decision is disappointing,” said Christina Kuzmych, WPM’s general manager. “Thousands of listeners rely on us for news, culture and entertainment.”

She said the cuts would affect eight staff members and leave the station trying to cover a state nearly 97,000 square miles wide with just two engineers.

“If these cuts remain in place,” Kuzmych said, “something will have to give.”

As tensions cooled, committee leaders tried to strike a conciliatory note.

“Everybody feels a little bloodied up after those discussions,” said House Appropriations Chair John Bear, R-Gillette. “We’re all here to do what’s best for Wyoming.”

The committee has the rest of the week to finish the budget before lawmakers reconvene for the full session starting Feb. 9. And with plenty of steps left before anything becomes law, the fight over UW and public media is far from over.