Johns Hopkins University has laid off 110 employees as it faces ongoing challenges related to declining federal funding, following significant job cuts in the previous year.
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) has announced the layoff of 110 employees as it continues to navigate the complexities of declining federal funding. This decision comes on the heels of more than 2,200 positions eliminated last year.
In June 2025, the university implemented a hiring freeze and paused annual pay increases, citing uncertainty in funding. The recent layoffs predominantly impacted administrative staff, with university officials describing the job cuts as a measure of last resort.
“As our federal research portfolio shrinks, the infrastructure around it must change in parallel,” university leaders stated in a recent announcement. They emphasized that last year, JHU undertook significant cost-management initiatives, which included a hiring freeze, pausing annual increases for employees earning over $80,000, reducing discretionary spending, eliminating vacant positions, and cutting five-year capital project spending by 20%.
Earlier in March, JHU had also conducted layoffs affecting employees in 44 countries, following a loss of over $800 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The university is recognized as one of the leading recipients of National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, which have seen reductions under the previous administration.
According to reports, 90 grants concluded in June 2025, resulting in a loss of $50 million in federal research funding. In response to these financial challenges, JHU has implemented strategies aimed at stabilizing its budget, alongside the hiring freeze and pay increase pause.
In February, the university revealed that the total outstanding value of its multiyear federal research portfolio had decreased by more than $500 million during the 2025 calendar year. This decline was attributed to receiving 43% less in federal research funding and 28% fewer awards compared to the previous year.
In light of these funding challenges, JHU recently announced the establishment of a new research fund, allocating $60 million annually for the next two years to support ongoing research efforts.
According to Reuters, the previous administration had sought to cut federal funding for universities over various issues, including pro-Palestinian protests, advocacy for transgender rights, climate initiatives, and diversity programs. Advocates for rights have raised concerns regarding free speech, academic freedom, and due process, with some judges ordering the restoration of federal funding that had been previously frozen.
The university’s ongoing adjustments reflect a broader trend in higher education as institutions grapple with fluctuating federal support and the implications for their operational structures.