Cowboy State needs to protect itself from shifting federal priorities

Wyoming legislators are right to address the necessity of upholding the principles of federalism in the 2026 Legislative Session in the form of SJ 2.

For too long, the Cowboy State— which receives 49 percent of its budget from federal taxpayers—has acted as if federal dollars were a given, as well as its own autonomy. For comparison, the national average is around 30 percent, and surrounding states also receive significantly lower percentages from the federal government. Last fall’s epic 43-day federal government shutdown served as a reminder for legislators to put procedures in place to protect vital state interests.

SJ 2 should be seen as an opening salvo from which to build rather than a comprehensive plan to allow roads to be built, schools funded and veterans protected, however, regardless of whether the federal government is open or closed. 

The bill calls upon the Wyoming Congressional delegation to particularly focus on securing the state’s rights as they pertain to electoral procedures, free speech and money in elections. In subsequent years, legislators should turn the focus inward to increase their understanding of how federal dollars support state operations and ways to safeguard programs so that they don’t shut down when the federal government does.

Our southern neighbor passed a series of “Financial Ready Utah” laws in 2011 with wide bipartisan support that have served as a model for other states on how to remain financially independent and solvent in all situations. Wyoming legislators should educate themselves on those laws in the coming year, as well as ask our Congressional delegation to investigate how all federal legislation, not just laws pertaining to elections, does or could potentially violate state sovereignty. Consider this the 10th Amendment checklist for congressional bills.

See the State Policy Network’s 2025 Federalism Scorecard for more ways state legislators could strengthen the state’s fiscal independence and a more detailed analysis of how the state could protect itself here. Much of the federal government’s rapid rise in spending since the 1950s is directed toward activities that used to be under the purview of state and local governments. With the United States facing unprecedented levels of debt, Congress could find itself in the position where it must eliminate those programs that for decades have flowed to Wyoming and other states. 

May SJ 2 launch Wyoming on a path that leads to greater financial independence from the federal government and Wyoming legislators to a deeper understanding of how to protect the people, places and programs essential to the Cowboy State thriving.