Democrats Block Funding for Global War on Terror Memorial on Washington Capitol Campus

Proposal to honor local service members who died in post-9/11 conflicts stalls amid tensions over Israel-Palestine conflict

Mar. 17, 2026 at 6:44am

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In the final hours of Washington's legislative session, it was revealed that Democrats blocked a proposal to provide $14,000 in funding to advance a memorial honoring local service members who died in the Global War on Terror. The memorial had previously been authorized by legislation, but the latest effort to secure capital budget funding stalled amid objections from some Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, who reportedly called the proposal "the most offensive thing [she'd] ever seen."

Why it matters

The failure to secure funding for the memorial has sparked concerns about the growing partisan divide in the state legislature, with some lawmakers arguing that honoring fallen service members should be a bipartisan issue. The controversy also highlights the influence of the Israel-Palestine conflict on domestic politics, as some Democrats reportedly objected to the memorial due to its perceived connection to the broader geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The details

Rep. Hunter Abell (R-Inchelium), who introduced the bill to establish a formal process for the memorial, said the $14,000 funding request was intended to help advance a project that had already been authorized by prior legislation. However, during final budget negotiations between the House and Senate, the funding was removed. Abell said he was stunned by the resistance, especially since he had expected the proposal to be broadly bipartisan.

  • The proposal was introduced in January 2026 as House Bill 2514.
  • The funding request was included in the House capital budget but was removed during final negotiations with the Senate.

The players

Rep. Hunter Abell

A Republican state representative from Inchelium, Washington, and a Navy Reserve commander with over 20 years of military service, including deployments to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.

Sen. Yasmin Trudeau

A Democratic state senator from Tacoma, Washington, who reportedly objected strongly to the memorial proposal, calling it "the most offensive thing [she'd] ever seen." Trudeau has a history of involvement in local anti-Israel events and has been featured at events with groups linked to terrorism, such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

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What they’re saying

“This is part of what government does. We honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion in service to our country.”

— Rep. Hunter Abell

“The real problem was the conflict with Iran and ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinians in the Middle East & they just didn't like it.”

— Rep. Hunter Abell

What’s next

Abell indicated that the effort to secure funding for the memorial is far from over, and he suggested he intends to continue pushing for the project in future legislative sessions.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the growing partisan divide in Washington state politics, where honoring fallen service members has become entangled with broader geopolitical tensions, particularly the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The failure to secure funding for the memorial raises questions about the ability of lawmakers to set aside political differences and come together to recognize the sacrifices of those who served in the Global War on Terror.