Washington: Johns Hopkins University announced on Thursday that it will cut over 2,000 jobs across the U.S. and internationally following the Trump administration’s decision to terminate $800 million in grants to the prestigious academic institution.
The move marks the largest workforce reduction in the university’s history, affecting 247 domestic positions within the U.S. and an additional 1,975 jobs spread across 44 countries. The layoffs will impact multiple divisions, including the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Jhpiego, a nonprofit affiliated with the university that specializes in global health initiatives.
“This is a difficult day for our entire community. The termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding is now forcing us to wind down critical work here in Baltimore and internationally,” the university stated in a press release shared with the media.
Since assuming office on January 20, President Donald Trump and his ally, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, have taken steps to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Following a six-week review, the Trump administration has eliminated more than 80% of USAID’s programs, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On Monday, Rubio confirmed that the administration had significantly scaled back foreign aid initiatives, citing the need to reevaluate the effectiveness of such programs.
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In addition to reductions at USAID, the Trump administration has launched investigations into 60 American universities, including Johns Hopkins, over campus demonstrations linked to pro-Palestinian protests. Officials claim the protests are antisemitic, while demonstrators argue that their criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza is being misconstrued as antisemitism.
Last week, the administration took similar action against Columbia University in New York, canceling $400 million in grants and contracts. Additionally, the government is pursuing the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia who has been a leading figure in the campus protests.
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The cuts at Johns Hopkins have drawn concern from faculty members, students, and international partners who rely on the university’s programs for education and global health initiatives. Critics argue that the administration’s moves could have long-term repercussions for academic research, public health, and humanitarian efforts worldwide.
