Harvard Kennedy School, under Harvard University, is reportedly laying off employees as part of cost-cutting measures in response to recent punitive actions by the Trump administration. The decision to downsize comes amid significant financial challenges faced by the institution.
The school’s Dean, Jeremy M. Weinstein, announced in an email to faculty and staff on Wednesday that in addition to university-wide hiring freezes and performance pay cuts, further cost-saving measures, including layoffs, will be implemented at the Kennedy School of Government.
Weinstein expressed regret in the email, stating that additional efforts were necessary to address the current financial challenges. He emphasized the need to trim team members and restructure positions to ensure the long-term financial viability of the Kennedy School.
According to the email, affected employees were notified of the layoff plan by management on Wednesday afternoon. The exact number of employees being let go has not been disclosed by the school’s spokesperson.
Weinstein disclosed that budget reduction plans had commenced as early as February, but subsequent actions by the Trump administration posed unprecedented challenges. The White House’s decisions to slash billions of dollars in research funding to Harvard University, alongside other threats like potential tax increases on university donations and the potential loss of international students, have exacerbated the financial strain.
“I deeply regret that we have to take these measures, as we, as an institution, are navigating unprecedented challenges,” Weinstein wrote regarding the layoff decision.
As the Kennedy School of Government faces staffing cuts, Harvard University continues to grapple with mounting pressures from the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the Ivy League school rejected government demands for reforms, leading to the cancellation of federal funding.
In addition, the institution faced a significant setback when the Department of Homeland Security announced the immediate revocation of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, jeopardizing its ability to recruit international students.
Although a federal judge temporarily halted this directive, legal battles persist, with the Homeland Security Department challenging Harvard’s SEVP certification through an administrative process that could take months to resolve.
Furthermore, discussions in Congress regarding increased university donation taxes pose another threat to Harvard University, with potential tax hikes on the institution’s $53.2 billion endowment fund. Republicans in Congress have long proposed raising taxes on private universities.
Despite these challenges, Harvard University remains committed to navigating the complex landscape of financial uncertainties and policy changes affecting higher education institutions.