Up to $1 Billion in Federal Funding Eliminated, Threatening 10,000+ Jobs Across Washington State
Thursday, Congresswoman Emily Randall (WA-06) condemned the Trump Administration’s decision to cancel up to $1 billion in federal funding for the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub, which would have created more than 10,000 jobs across Washington, Oregon, and Montana, as part of the cancellation of $7.5 billion in projects that would lower energy costs across the country.
The hub received an initial $27.5 million in Phase 1 funding in July 2024 and was eligible to receive up to $1 billion over multiple phases. Funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the hub was created to produce clean hydrogen using the region’s renewable energy resources, with projects spanning Washington, Oregon, and Montana.
“The Trump Administration announced yesterday that they are callously canceling funding for Washington’s Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub in a clearly political –– and likely illegal –– decision. This is a devastating blow to workers and families across our state. This decision throws away more than 10,000 good-paying jobs and abandons investments that have been years in the making to lower energy costs for Washingtonians, regardless of their political affiliations,” said Rep. Randall.
“I’ll be fighting alongside our state’s leadership, the Pacific Northwest congressional delegation, labor partners, and community leaders to reverse this harmful decision. And I’ll keep pushing to safeguard the investments our communities need to build the clean energy economy that creates jobs, protects our environment, and secures our economic future.”
Randall Hosts Tele-Town Hall with Over 18,000 Attendees
Congresswoman Emily Randall Addresses Government Shutdown Impacts, Service Member Pay, and Health Care Access in Telephone Town Hall
Wednesday night, Congresswoman Emily Randall (WA-06) hosted a tele-town hall that drew over 18,000 participants, addressing concerns about the ongoing government shutdown, threats to health care access and affordability, and federal worker protections.
During the town hall, Rep. Randall provided critical updates on how the shutdown affects her neighbors in Washington’s 6th District.
On Social Security and Federal Services: Randall assured her neighbors that Social Security benefit payments will continue uninterrupted during the shutdown, though other services may experience delays due to furloughs. She emphasized her office’s commitment to providing casework assistance to those facing service interruptions.
Coast Guard Pay: Randall highlighted her cosponsorship of legislation ensuring Coast Guard members continue receiving pay during shutdowns, calling it a national security issue and emphasizing that Coasties deserve the same financial security as other Armed Forces members.
Health Care Access: The Congresswoman addressed concerns about Medicare and Medicaid, clarifying that benefits remain unaffected by the shutdown, though she is fighting to extend Medicare telehealth provisions critical for rural communities that expired on September 30th. In addition, she discussed the significant increases in insurance premiums Washingtonians will face in the coming weeks without Republicans working with Democrats to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits, and the severe impacts from the Big Ugly Law’s Medicaid cuts that rural providers are starting to experience.
Accountability and Oversight: As a member of the Oversight Committee, Randall detailed her work conducting announced and unannounced visits to the Northwest ICE Processing Center and collaborating with the GAO to investigate conditions at detention facilities.
Rep. Randall emphasized that while Democrats were in Washington D.C. and ready to negotiate this week, Republicans — who control the majority — cancelled votes and have yet to engage in meaningful talks. The next scheduled House session is October 7th.