Johns Hopkins University has begun laying off more than 2,000 workers worldwide after losing $800 million in federal grants due to the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid. The university cut 1,975 positions in 44 countries and 247 in the US, with US-based workers having at least 60 days before job changes take effect.
The Trump administration has sought to dismantle USAID, canceling over 1,600 jobs and putting almost its entire workforce on administrative leave. This move has sparked outrage among USAID supporters, who say the funding strengthens US global influence and worldwide stability.
At Hopkins, the cuts could have wide-reaching effects both globally and locally. The university produced $15 billion in economic impact in Maryland last year and employed over 90,000 workers worldwide. Governor Wes Moore called the consequences “immediate and profound,” saying students, faculty, and researchers will bear the direct burden of these reductions.
The university had more than $3 billion in research spending in 2023, with a large portion focused on global health and international aid. The Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid have put this funding at risk. Hopkins faculty are scrambling to find alternative funding sources, but some worry it may be impossible to fill the gap left by USAID.
The grant cuts will affect not only terminated programs but also administrators managing non-USAID grants. Researchers say their science is important and they will continue pursuing it despite the uncertainty. With US-based workers having time to adjust, the university’s future remains uncertain as it navigates the impact of these drastic cuts.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2025/03/13/johns-hopkins-layoffs-federal-funding-cuts