Johns Hopkins Cuts 2,000 Jobs After Trump Ends $800M Grant/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Johns Hopkins University announced over 2,000 job cuts after the Trump administration terminated $800 million in USAID grants, marking the largest layoffs in the university’s history. The cuts affect the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the medical school, and Jhpiego, an affiliated nonprofit. The move comes as Trump and Elon Musk push to dismantle USAID, while also investigating U.S. universities over pro-Palestinian protests.
Johns Hopkins Layoffs Quick Looks:
- Massive Job Losses: 247 U.S.-based and 1,975 international positions will be eliminated.
- Funding Terminated: The Trump administration cut $800 million in USAID grants to the university.
- Impacted Programs: Layoffs hit public health, medical research, and global health initiatives.
- Broader Trend: The administration has canceled over 80% of USAID programs, per Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- University Crackdown: Trump officials are investigating 60 universities, including Johns Hopkins, over pro-Palestinian protests.
Johns Hopkins Cuts 2,000 Jobs After Trump Ends $800M Grant
Deep Look:
Historic Job Cuts at Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University has announced the largest workforce reduction in its history after the Trump administration revoked more than $800 million in USAID grants. The university, a global leader in public health and medical research, confirmed that 2,222 jobs will be eliminated—with 247 positions lost in the U.S. and nearly 2,000 more in 44 countries.
“This is a difficult day for our entire community,” Johns Hopkins 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.”
Trump’s War on USAID and Higher Education
Since taking office in January, Trump and his billionaire ally Elon Musk have aggressively targeted USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. The administration has already eliminated over 80% of USAID’s programs following a rapid six-week review, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Johns Hopkins, long a major recipient of USAID grants, is just the latest casualty of this foreign aid crackdown. Last week, the Trump administration cut $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University, citing concerns over pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
Campus Protests and Federal Investigations
Beyond funding cuts, Trump officials are investigating 60 universities, including Johns Hopkins, for their handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The administration alleges that these protests promote antisemitism, while demonstrators argue that their criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza is being misrepresented.
One high-profile case involves Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student at Columbia University. Khalil, a prominent protest leader, is now facing deportation as part of Trump’s wider crackdown on activism at U.S. colleges.
Impact on Public Health and Global Research
The layoffs at Johns Hopkins are expected to have major consequences for global health initiatives, as USAID funding supports medical research, vaccine programs, and healthcare services in developing nations. The university’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, its medical school, and Jhpiego, a nonprofit that delivers healthcare services abroad, will all see funding slashed.
These cuts threaten to disrupt critical research and medical assistance programs, raising concerns among public health experts about the long-term impact on global disease prevention and treatment efforts.
Looking Ahead
With USAID funding gutted, universities under federal scrutiny, and student activists facing deportation, Trump’s hardline policies on education and foreign aid are reshaping the landscape of American higher learning and global development.
As Johns Hopkins reels from these layoffs, other universities and research institutions may soon face similar financial and political pressures, signaling a dramatic shift in federal funding priorities under Trump’s administration.
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