Johns Hopkins University is facing its largest-ever round of layoffs after losing $800 million in federal grants under the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to foreign aid and academic funding.
The university announced on Thursday that it will eliminate over 2,000 positions worldwide, including 247 in the United States and nearly 2,000 across 44 countries. The cuts will affect the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the School of Medicine, and the affiliated nonprofit Jhpiego, which focuses on global 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 forcing us to wind down critical work both in Baltimore and internationally.”
Since returning to office, Trump—backed by billionaire ally Elon Musk—has moved aggressively to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The administration has already slashed more than 80% of USAID programs after a rapid six-week review, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Beyond foreign aid cuts, the administration has launched investigations into 60 American universities, including Johns Hopkins, over student-led pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Officials claim the protests are antisemitic, while demonstrators argue their criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza is being unfairly labeled.
The crackdown has also extended to Columbia University, where the administration recently canceled $400 million in grants and contracts. Additionally, efforts are underway to deport Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student involved in Columbia’s protests.
Johns Hopkins, long regarded as a leader in public health and international research, now faces an uncertain future as funding disappears and critical programs are dismantled.
