Colleges and universities across the country have frozen hiring, rescinded student offer letters, and cut programs due to federal funding cuts.
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The Trump administration has made moves to pause National Institutes of Health research and other federal funding that many colleges and universities rely on.
Colleges and universities across the country are scrambling to patch the holes in their budgets left by the frozen funds.
The administration has also threatened to withhold funds from institutions that practice DEI, have allegations of antisemitism, or allow transgender athletes to compete.
On the campaign trail, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump promised the American people he would rein in U.S. colleges and universities and even eliminate the Department of Education (ED).
His first few months in office were a flurry of executive orders, some of which stalled or halted federal funding to colleges and universities.
On Jan. 27, the Office of Management and Budget released a memo outlining a freeze on federal grants. Two days later, the memo was rescinded.
The memo announced the Trump administration’s temporary pause of funding to federal agencies’ grant, loan, and financial assistance programs as it reviewed how federal money was being spent.
A freeze on National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and grants, for example, would affect medical and science research. NIH funding and grants support research at many colleges and universities across the country. This, along with Trump’s executive orders, caused confusion on U.S. campuses over what research could be pursued.
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Additionally, some research projects and grants were cut because their names and titles included words or topics the administration considered to fall under diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
This whirlwind of freezing and thawing funding has left higher education confused. Many colleges and universities have lost funding they relied on for research, graduate student support, and staffing departments.
Some colleges and universities face warnings and investigations that could impact the future of their federal funding.
While many schools face uncertainty about the state of their federal funding, it’s important to note that some budget reductions in 2025 may not stem directly from the disappearance of the funds.
Universities across the country have had federal research and partnering funding frozen, some being told it was over allegations of antisemitism and some over the inclusion of transgender athletes.
Other universities that have had federal funding frozen include:
Brown University had $510 million frozen over allegations of failing to address antisemitism, announced on April 3.
Columbia University had $400 million canceled. On March 13, the administration sent a letter to Columbia outlining a list of demands the university had to meet to earn back its financial funding. The deadline to meet these demands was March 20, by which time Columbia had acquiesced to most of these demands.
After Harvard rejected Trump’s demands on April 11, the administration first cut over $2 billion on April 14. Almost a month later on May 13, the federal government cut another $450 million in research grants from eight federal agencies. The administration a third round of funding on May 19, erasing $60 million in grants. Then, on May 27, the administration ordered all federal agencies to cancel remaining contracts with Harvard, totaling about $100 million.
Johns Hopkins University experienced $800 million in cuts from the U.S. Agency for International Development, which provided grants to the school, announced March 4.
Northwestern University had $790 million frozen on April 8.
Princeton University had dozens of federal grants revoked at the beginning of April, resulting in a $210 million shortfall.
The University of Maryland had over 40 federal grants and contracts totaling about $12 million either paused or canceled on April 23.
The University of Pennsylvania had $175 million frozen over allowing a transgender athlete to participate on the women’s swim team. Announced March 19.
The University of Maine briefly lost Department of Agriculture funding over the state not complying with a Trump executive order outlining restrictions for transgender athletes. Funding was reinstated after Maine’s congressional representatives got involved.
The federal government ceased funding the University of Michigan’s multimillion-dollar research project.
The University of Tennessee system lost $38.69 million in grants that funded several research and development projects focusing on underrepresented populations, mental health, and vaccines.
The following list includes U.S. colleges and universities that have attributed budget cuts to federal funding challenges. Schools are categorized by the types of cuts they have made, including hiring freezes, layoffs, and impacts on graduate students.
Impacts on Graduate Students
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: Ames, Iowa
Impact: Rescinded graduate student offer letters
The research institution had some programs and departments rescind offer letters to graduate students who had not yet accepted their offers. Iowa State said this was because of budget and funding uncertainty.
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: San Diego
Impact: Graduate student funding cuts, potential research cuts
The California university is no longer guaranteeing funding for incoming graduate students and has had to limit research funding due to proposed federal cuts, including cuts to scientific research grants. UC San Diego also faces federal funding being withheld over antisemitism allegations.
Institution type: Public
Location: Iowa City, Iowa
Impact: Graduate student offers rescinded
The University of Iowa emailed some graduate students — including some in the English Department — to let them know that the school would be rescinding some offer letters. The university said the decision was in response to uncertainty around federal research funding.
Institution type: Public
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Impact: Rescinded offer letters
The UMass Chan Medical School rescinded some offered spots in its biomedical sciences program in March. The medical school attributed this decision to possible federal funding cuts, including cuts to the NIH.
Prospective graduate students at UW-Madison have reported having their offer letters revised even after they have accepted admission. The school cited uncertainty about federal funding leading to limited spots at the university. ED is currently investigating UW-Madison over racial bias claims, and funding could be withheld over antisemitism allegations.
Hiring Freezes
Institution type: Private
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Impact: Hiring freeze
In March, Brown University announced a campuswide hiring freeze. The university attributed this precautionary decision to uncertainty over federal funding. Brown is currently under investigation over antisemitism allegations and faces federal funding cuts.
Columbia’s medical school announced a pause in hiring and spending in early February. “Cost containment measures, which will help to preserve our financial flexibility, will include a temporary pause on activities such as hiring, travel, procurement, capital projects, and events,” Dr. James McKiernan, interim dean of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, wrote in the announcement to faculty.
Institution type: Private
Location: Ithaca, New York
Impact: Hiring freeze
The Ivy League school implemented a “position control process for all hiring,” pausing non-essential hiring, and implementing review policies for determining essential hiring.
“Together with all of American higher education, Cornell is entering a time of significant financial uncertainty,” the university announced. “The potential for deep cuts in federal research funding, as well as tax legislation affecting our endowment income, has now been added to existing concerns related to rapid growth and cost escalations.”
In early April, it was reported that over $1 billion in federal funding had been frozen at Cornell.
Institution type: Private
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Impact: Hiring freeze, budget cuts
The research university announced in March that it would enact a hiring freeze and other cost-saving measures. Duke’s budget cuts include freezing staff hiring, suspending capital spending, and reviewing administrative operations. ED is currently investigating Duke for allegations of racial bias.
In late April, Duke University leaders announced to staff and faculty that it was aiming to reduce costs by $350 million — about 10% of its expenses — because of federal funding cuts. University leaders said it would begin a voluntary separation program for some employees starting the beginning of May and then initiate layoffs this July. Duke is the second-largest private employer in North Carolina and the largest employer in Durham County.
Institution type: Private
Location: Atlanta
Impact: Hiring freeze, budget cuts
Emory President Gregory L. Fenves announced to staff that the research university would enact a hiring freeze and reduce operating expenditures due to changes in federal policies. ED is investigating Emory for allegations of racial bias.
Institution type: Private
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Impact: Hiring freeze
The Ivy League university announced a temporary hiring freeze March 10 due to financial uncertainties driven by federal policies. The university also announced that it will scrutinize discretionary and nonsalary spending, reassess capital renewal projects, and review any new multi-year commitments. The Trump administration has cut Harvard’s funding by over $2.7 billion for refusing to agree to demands over alleged antisemitism and race discrimination.
Institution type: Public
Location: Louisiana
Impact: Hiring freeze
The public, land-grant research university announced at the end of March that it would be implementing a hiring freeze and considering laying off some positions due to uncertainty and unpredictability around federal funding. LSU’s president, William Tate IV, told faculty and staff in an email that the university will withhold 2% of each department’s budget next year, and create policies to encourage cost saving and efficiencies. The president’s email also said LSU would consider exploring the use of AI for some administrative tasks.
Institution type: Private
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Impact: Hiring freeze
MIT announced a hiring freeze in February due to uncertainty over federal funding. Faculty positions were not included in this freeze. MIT is currently being investigated by ED over allegations of racial bias.
Institution type: Public
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Impact: Hiring freeze
The public, land-grant, research university announced in mid-February that it would pause all hiring activities due to uncertainty over federal funding. Student workers, graduate student appointments, and part-time and temporary employees were not included in this freeze.
“Given the uncertain impacts of the presidential administration’s Executive Orders and guidance, the potential shut down of the federal government on March 14, and financial challenges that the state government is dealing with, leadership is becoming increasingly concerned with our budgets over the next year or two,” Executive Vice Chancellor Warwick Arden wrote in the announcement.
Institution type: Private
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Impact: Hiring freeze, budget restrictions
Northwestern announced in early February that it would be implementing review policies for hiring and compensation increases, and reducing non-personnel expense budgets. The university cited challenges related to “federal legislation, potential changes in federal policy, compliance, research administration, security and litigation.”
In early April, it was reported that $790 million in federal funding had been frozen at Northwestern.
Institution type: Private
Location: Stanford, California
Impact: Hiring freeze
The research university announced a hiring freeze due to the cuts to the NIH. The scale of these cuts led to uncertainties over the school’s budget since Stanford receives funding from the NIH. Faculty, contingent, and student employees were excluded from this freeze. Stanford also faces threats to its federal funding over allegations of antisemitism.
Institution type: Public
Location: New York
Impact: Research cuts, budget cuts, hiring freeze
New York’s university systems are under a hiring freeze as the funding for research and programs has been called into question due to federal funding cuts, including to the NIH. SUNY Binghamton, Rockland, and Purchase could have federal funding withheld over allegations of antisemitism.
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: San Diego
Impact: Hiring pause, capital project changes, budget planning and changes
In early April, UC San Diego announced it would implement a faculty and staff hiring pause, delay some capital projects, and plan new budget strategies. The university said these decisions were based on proposed and existing federal funding changes and uncertainty about future funding. UC San Diego cited relying on funding from research grants, indirect cost recovery from research, student financial aid, Pell Grants, and reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid payments for patient care at UC San Diego Health.
Institution type: Public
Location: California
Impact: Hiring freeze
On March 19, University of California President Michael V. Drake, M.D., directed all UC locations, including the Office of the President, to implement a staff hiring freeze and cost-saving measures such as limiting travel and business expenses. He cited Trump administration policies as the reason. Some UC schools could have federal funding withheld over allegations of antisemitism. The University of California, Berkeley had its federal funding threatened over allegations of racial bias in DEI practices.
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: College Park, Maryland
Impact: Partial hiring freeze
The research university announced in late March that it would implement a partial hiring freeze and new guidelines on hiring. Hiring to fill existing, funded positions requires additional review, and hiring for any new positions is paused. University administrators told faculty and staff this was due to uncertainty around federal funding.
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Impact: Budget cuts, hiring freeze
The university announced it would cut its budget by about $5 million and continue its existing hiring freeze. The university said this was due to uncertainty around state and federal funding and said more cuts may be necessary. The university has been battling budget shortfalls for several years after years of stagnant enrollment growth.
Institution type: Public
Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Impact: Hiring freeze
The Kenan-Flagler Business School announced April 3 that it would not hire additional personnel through the end of April. An email to business school employees said this decision was due to “political disruptions, shifts in international relations, and uncertainties about federal funding.” In February, the UNC System announced hiring freeze decisions would be made at the campus level under the authority of each institution’s chancellor.
Institution type: Private
Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
Impact: Hiring freeze
The private university announced a hiring freeze for non-teaching staff in early March. The institution said this freeze was due to the cancellation of federal grants and other financial assistance from the NIH. Notre Dame is currently under ED investigation over racial bias allegations.
Institution type: Private
Location: Philadelphia
Impact: Budget cuts, hiring freeze
The Pennsylvania Ivy League school implemented a hiring freeze and capital spending review due to the uncertainty of federal funding cuts the day after the Trump administration suspended $175 million in federal funds.
Institution type: Public
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Impact: Hiring freeze
On March 12, the University of Pittsburgh announced a temporary hiring freeze through March 23 and further hiring process guidance on March 24 for the remainder of the fiscal year and beyond. In February, the university temporarily paused admissions to its Ph.D. programs following the NIH funding cuts.
Institution type: Private
Location: Los Angeles
Impact: Hiring freeze, budget reductions
In late March the university announced that it would be reducing its budget, freezing staff hiring, curtailing faculty hiring, slowing down on capital spending, and ending the extended winter recess.
The university said the following about its decision: “As you are aware, colleges and universities across the nation are facing tremendous scrutiny and financial stress due to federal funding uncertainty, cuts, increased costs, and other risks. Like other major research institutions, USC relies on significant amounts of federal funding to carry out our mission.
“In fiscal year 2024, for example, we received approximately $1.35 billion in federal funding, including roughly $650 million in student financial aid and $569 million for federally funded research. The health system also receives Medicare, Medicaid, and Medi-Cal payments — a significant portion of its revenues — and the futures of those funds are similarly uncertain.”
Institution type: Public, land-grant
Location: Burlington, Vermont
Impact: Hiring freeze
The research university announced a temporary hiring freeze in March. The university said in a memo about the decision: “With multiple federal funding sources for university operations facing proposed reduction or alteration and the outcomes of several federal actions uncertain, the university will pause general hiring for all long-term faculty, staff, and postdoctoral positions, effective immediately and extending for 60 days.”
Institution type: Public
Location: Seattle
Impact: Hiring freeze
The University of Washington implemented a hiring freeze for all nonessential faculty and staff. UW said this was due to federal policy changes and the risk of federal funding cuts. Washington state is also facing a higher education budget shortfall. The University of Washington-Seattle could have federal funding withheld over allegations of antisemitism. It’s also under ED investigation over allegations of racial bias.
Institution type: Public
Location: Pullman, Washington
Impact: Hiring freeze, other budget restrictions
WSU announced in late March that it would place a “strategic pause” on non-essential faculty and staff hiring. The public, land-grant institution will also review purchases and contracts, renegotiate non-essential contracts, reduce discretionary spending, and pause out-of-cycle salary increases for faculty and staff.
The university attributed these decisions to “challenges at the state and federal levels.” In its statement about these decisions, WSU’s news and media relations said “Public research universities, including WSU, face tremendous uncertainty amid shifting priorities at the state and federal level.”
Layoffs
Institution type: Private
Location: New York City, New York
Impact: Hiring freeze, budget cuts, layoffs
The university announced on May 6 that almost 180 researchers would be terminated from their positions or receive notices of non-renewal. The university said this was due to cuts to federal grants.
Institution type: Public, tribal, land-grant
Location: Lawrence, Kansas
Impact: Layoffs, budget cuts
The university experienced vast budget cuts and mass layoffs as a result of the nationwide layoffs of federal employees. Roughly one-third of the university’s employees were laid off, which prompted protests by students, staff, and faculty.
Institution type: Private
Location: Baltimore
Impact: Layoffs
The research university announced in March that it would lay off 2,200 workers due to funding cuts. The university said this was the largest layoff in its history. Johns Hopkins is also under threat of having federal funds withheld over antisemitism allegations.
Institution type: Public, two-year
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Impact: Layoffs
Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute lost about 20% of its staff back in February, when the federal government downsized its workforce.
Institution type: Public
Location: Orono, Maine
Impact: Layoffs
The University of Maine said it would terminate nine researchers within the Advanced Structures and Composites Center effective June 6 due to concerns about the uncertainty of its federal funding. Over 85% of the center’s funding comes from the federal government.
Institution type: Public
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Impact: Layoffs, salary reductions, budget cuts
The University of Maryland, Baltimore announced on May 12 that it would lay off 30 full-time staff and eliminate 30 vacant positions. Additionally, some salaries will be reduced. University administrators said they are facing a fiscal year budget reduction of almost $33.8 million due to state and federal funding cuts.
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