Johns Hopkins University announced sweeping layoffs of over 2,000 employees globally this week after the termination of $800 million in U.S. federal grants, marking the largest workforce reduction in the institution’s 148-year history. The cuts affect 247 domestic roles and 1,975 positions across 44 countries, with significant impacts on its Bloomberg School of Public Health, medical programs, and Jhpiego—a nonprofit focused on global health equity.
The university described the layoffs as a direct consequence of the Trump administration’s decision to cancel funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which supported critical public health initiatives in Baltimore and abroad. “This is a difficult day for our entire community,” the institution stated, emphasizing the abrupt wind-down of long-running projects.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed this week that over 80% of USAID programs have been halted following a six-week review, part of a broader campaign by former President Donald Trump and allies like Elon Musk to dismantle the agency. The administration has also intensified scrutiny of universities, with 60 institutions—including Johns Hopkins—under investigation for alleged ties to pro-Palestinian campus protests deemed “antisemitic” by officials. Protest organizers deny these claims, arguing their criticism centers on Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The funding cuts follow a recent $400 million grant cancellation for Columbia University and efforts to deport Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist in New York. Analysts warn these moves signal a deepening impact of U.S. policy shifts on academia and global health networks.
