Johns Hopkins University announced on Thursday that it would be cutting more than 2,000 jobs in the United States and internationally after President Donald Trump’s administration revoked $800 million in grants previously allocated to the institution.
The decision marks the largest job reduction in the university’s history, affecting 247 employees in the US and an additional 1,975 positions across 44 countries. The layoffs will impact the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the university’s medical school, and Jhpiego, a non-profit organisation affiliated with Johns Hopkins that focuses on international health initiatives.
“This is a difficult day for our entire community,” the university said in a statement. “The termination of more than $800 million in USAID funding is now forcing us to wind down critical work here in Baltimore and internationally”, according to Reuters report.
Since taking office on 20 January, Trump and billionaire ally Elon Musk have sought to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID). US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday that more than 80% of USAID’s programmes had been cancelled following a six-week review.
In addition to reducing foreign aid, the Trump administration has launched investigations into 60 American universities, including Johns Hopkins, over pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses. Officials claim these protests are antisemitic, though demonstrators reject the allegation, arguing that their criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza is being misrepresented.
Last week, the administration also revoked $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University in New York. Moreover, authorities are seeking to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student who has been actively involved in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia.
(with inputs from Reuters)
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
