A new Pew Charitable Trusts analysis documented wide state‑level reductions in higher education funding this year, with at least 15 states proposing or enacting cuts to public college and university budgets. The report ties declines to economic headwinds and shifting federal-state fiscal relationships, and documents consequences including delayed capital projects, $1.5 billion maintenance backlogs in California systems, hiring freezes, layoffs and tuition increases. Pew highlighted how federal funding volatility — including cuts to major research funders — ripples into state budgets, forcing tradeoffs that often shift discretionary funding away from higher education. University leaders and fiscal analysts warned these reductions threaten program capacity, research competitiveness and long‑term affordability for students.