Board of Supervisors Backs Bond to Protect San Diego Jobs, Cures, and Clinical Trials

June 4, 2026

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted in late May to endorse a proposed $23 billion California state research bond (SB 895) designed to counteract federal funding cuts to scientific research under the Trump Administration. San Diego County, a major biomedical and life sciences center, receives over $1 billion annually from the National Institutes of Health alone, supporting more than 1,700 research projects at institutions including UC San Diego, Scripps Research, and the Salk Institute. The bond aims to protect thousands of jobs and ongoing clinical trials across the region's research sector, which employs over 160,000 people and generates $54 billion for the local economy.

Who is affected

Major research institutions: UC San Diego, Scripps Research, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and San Diego State University
Local biotech startups and smaller research organizations
More than 160,000 workers employed in San Diego's biomedical and life sciences industry
Researchers working on more than 1,700 active research projects
Patients involved in lifesaving clinical trials
San Diego County residents (economic impact)
California voters (who would decide on the bond)

What action is being taken

The Trump Administration is cutting and suspending research funding
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to support the proposed bond (SB 895)

Why it matters

This matters because San Diego County is one of the nation's premier biomedical and life sciences hubs, with the sector contributing more than $54 billion annually to the regional economy and supporting over 160,000 jobs. The federal funding cuts threaten critical ongoing research into medical breakthroughs, public health, and climate resilience, along with more than 1,700 active research projects and clinical trials. The proposed state bond represents an effort to preserve California's position as a science and innovation leader while protecting both jobs and potentially life-saving research that could be lost due to federal funding reductions.

What's next

The bond proposal would need to be approved by California voters to take effect
If approved, the bond would include annual independent audits reviewed by the State Controller
Public disclosure of grant awards would be implemented
Annual reporting on outcomes would be required

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint