Washington State Governor’s Office

On Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor Ceremony, and recognizing courageous individuals who gave their lives to protect others. There is no such thing as a routine call for law enforcement. We’re reminded of that as we honor Officer Ray, Sergeant Salas, Trooper Guting, and Corrections Officer Miller. On behalf of a grateful state, we honor their service and sacrifice.

Flags are lowered today in honor of National Firefighters Memorial Day. Firefighters work hard and put their lives at risk to keep Washingtonians safe. I deeply appreciate their service.

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily restored broad access to mifepristone, following an unscientific and unlawful decision by a lower federal court that would have imposed medically unnecessary restrictions nationwide — including in states where abortion is legal. The lower court’s disturbing decision threatens to curtail access to abortion care by telehealth, which is used in over a quarter of abortions here in Washington state. The Supreme Court should ensure that access to this safe, effective medication continues. As Attorney General, I challenged the federal government's restrictions on mifepristone in court. We protected access after a radical attempt from a Texas judge to overturn the FDA's approval of mifepristone and decimate access nationwide. Attacks on reproductive freedom are not new, and there will be more. In Washington, we will always stand up for reproductive health care.

AI is a technology with a lot of potential for our state. Like any new technology, we have to be mindful of potential consequences, so I'm proud Washington state is leading on common sense regulation with several bills I signed this year. I requested a bill this session to require AI companion chatbots like ChatGPT to implement protocols to detect and respond when an individual expresses thoughts of suicide or harming themselves. That's now law. It's challenging to determine what's made with AI. I signed a law requiring major AI companies to provide a commercially and technically reasonable way for Washingtonians to determine whether content was created or modified using artificial intelligence. I also signed laws restricting harmful uses of AI-generated images, including deceptive and nonconsensual deepfakes, and making it a crime to possess or distribute computer-generated images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Washington is a leader in protecting young people from the harmful effects of AI.

I was sorry to hear of the recent passing of two former legislators who served our state: Eric Robertson and Phil Rockefeller. Thinking of their families.

We celebrate the contributions of workers and organized labor. For the first time, International Workers Day falls during National Apprenticeship Week. Did you know that free money is available to help with expenses during qualified apprenticeship programs? We have some of the most generous financial aid in the nation, and it’s available for career training, college, or an apprenticeship. Apply today: wsac.wa.gov/wcg

When you go to work, 2 things should happen: You should get every penny that you've earned, and your workplace should be safe. It's our mission as a state to create, maintain, and enforce the safest work environments possible. We'll continue to do that work to honor the memory of the individuals we recently recognized at Labor & Industries' Worker Memorial Day.

Proud to attend the dedication of the Frank Chopp Center for Behavioral Health and Learning at the UW. The people coming through those doors, years from now, will learn about Frank, a force for good in Washington state. washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/04/29/the…

We will not allow GEO Group's continued obstruction and brazen disregard for state law at the Northwest ICE Processing Center to go unchallenged.

I'm proud of our dedicated fanbase for professional sports here in Washington state. The Seattle Torrent has broken attendance records in its inaugural season while leading average attendance!

I joined our Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield to encourage Washingtonians to read, write, or listen to poetry as we wrap up Poetry Month — starting with a couple lines from Derek.

This morning, applications opened for the Washington Zero-Emission Incentive Program, or WAZIP. We’re investing $112 million to make the purchase of cleaner commercial vehicles and equipment more affordable for a wide range of companies — big and small — across the state. Even as the federal government works to take us backward on climate policy, here in Washington, we will continue to be a national leader in protecting our environment.

The more than 3,500 complaints about the Northwest ICE Processing Center paint a stunning portrait of neglect and outright cruelty: medical emergencies ignored, contaminated food, unsanitary conditions and even assault by staff. Detainees have complained that the food provided has contained burned plastic, metal string, rope, splinters, hair and worms. Detainees reported that the food “appears rotten, has been served on dirty trays, and contains bugs.” One complaint reported that “[y]esterday for dinner, they served us raw meat. You can see the blood inside the meat. Many of us in the unit [54 people] chose to throw it away, but others made the decision to still eat it because they were hungry. Today, around 15 people woke up sick due to the food from last night.” On drinking water, one detainee said: “The water tastes disgusting, it does not taste like normal water you usually drink, which makes sense because all the staff here bring in their own water bottles because they know the water here is not safe to drink.” A recent complaint stated that at one point there were only two working bathrooms for around 100 people. The people detained at GEO’s facility have also reported they cannot meet their basic personal hygiene needs because GEO Group denies access to clean, dry clothes. One person reported that a “few days ago, I asked them to change my boxers, and they brought me ones that were dirty and belonged to someone else. The socks are also used and smell bad.” There are reports that sheets are not washed after someone has been sick with an infectious disease such as chicken pox or Covid. One individual reported being admitted to the hospital for a medical emergency, but when he was released, GEO staff refused to give him the medication he was prescribed. Instead, they gave him ibuprofen, allowing his condition to get worse. Some individuals detained at the facility have reported being victims of abuse and sexual assault. One individual reported that she was a victim of abuse three times. She said she was depressed, and scared that it could happen again. We're seeking a court order to permit health inspections. Washington state has the right to ensure the health and wellness of people detained within our borders. Full stop.

There's only one acceptable outcome: Safe conditions for everyone inside the facility.

Our health inspectors have been turned away 10 times at the Northwest ICE Processing Center. We're seeking a court order to get our inspectors into this facility. These are some of the over 3,500 complaints — including food with worms, refusal to give medication, and assault.

Today, I announced we're seeking a court order to permit health inspections at Northwest ICE Processing Center. The law is clear: We have the legal authority. GEO Group has obstructed our efforts. We've beaten GEO in court before, and we'll beat them again.

Washington state is home to tens of thousands of people with Middle Eastern and North African heritage, from a variety of faiths and cultures. We celebrate their contributions to our state, and reject discrimination.

Very sad news. I’ll always remember visiting Sam's home as he showed me his impressive political button collection. He had a story for each one. It was a blast — and a fascinating window into Washington political history which Sam lived.

Work started today on replacing the Spirit Lake Outlet Bridge to Mount St. Helens. Johnston Ridge Observatory been closed since a landslide destroyed the bridge in 2023. I'm excited for residents and visitors to be able to experience that view once again.

Over 700 Washingtonians have already applied for federal individual assistance following December's historic flooding, and FEMA has approved over $2 million in assistance. If your home was damaged, make sure to apply for federal aid: disasterassistance.gov