Johns Hopkins University, a prestigious research university located in Baltimore, Maryland, announced on Thursday (March 13) that it will be cutting over two thousand jobs in the United States and overseas after the Trump administration terminated its $800 million funding.
This will be the largest layoff in the university’s history, affecting 247 employees domestically and 1,975 positions in 44 countries around the world. Additionally, around 100 employees will be temporarily laid off due to reduced working hours.
The layoffs will impact various departments of the university, including the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, and the university’s nonprofit international health organization, Jhpiego.
In a statement shared with the media, the university expressed, “This is a difficult day for our entire community. The termination of over $800 million funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is forcing us to gradually halt our critical work in Baltimore and internationally.”
Since taking office on January 20, President Trump and White House senior advisor, billionaire Elon Musk, have been attempting to dissolve the U.S. Agency for International Development. This effort is part of the comprehensive government reform being conducted by the Department of Government Efficiency led by Musk.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that after a six-week review, the Trump administration has canceled over 80% of projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Moreover, the Trump administration has launched investigations into anti-Semitic activities at 60 U.S. colleges, including Johns Hopkins University, to determine their responses to Palestinian protests on campus last year. Federal funding for U.S. colleges supporting Hamas organization has also been frozen.
Just last week, the Trump administration canceled a $400 million grant and contract with Columbia University, based in New York City.
The Trump administration is also seeking to expel Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student who played a significant role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.
(Reference: Reuters)