Harvard Kennedy School employees dismissed following significant reductions in federal funding.

Harvard Kennedy School to Lay Off Staff Due to Funding Cuts

The Harvard Kennedy School is set to lay off staff on Wednesday following cuts to federal funding and potential increases in donation taxes, as revealed in an email from the school’s dean.

While not specifically naming the Trump administration, Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein communicated with faculty and staff about the “significant financial challenges” being faced due to “new, unprecedented headwinds.” These challenges include a proposed hike in donation taxes and substantial reductions in federal research funding.

Additionally, there has been a notable decline in international student enrollment after the cancellation of a student visa program, which followed what the administration described as “terrorist actions” during protests on campus. Last year, international students made up 59% of student organizations, averaging about 52% over the last five years.

Ongoing Financial Struggles

The Kennedy School began evaluating budget cuts in February, but recent developments from the White House have exacerbated their financial situation.

The Trump administration has suspended $2.2 billion in university funding and has also suggested revoking tax-exempt status, especially in light of rising anti-Semitism linked to protests following attacks against Israel.

The Department of Education’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism criticized Harvard Law Review for an alleged pattern of endemic racism in its article evaluations. Now, it appears another $450 million in university grants may be cut due to these ongoing conflicts.

Alongside layoffs, Harvard has started implementing “critical steps” to address financial issues at the Kennedy School. This includes a freeze on hiring, suspensions of merit-based pay, and halting various construction projects.

Dean Weinstein expressed regret about the need for layoffs and remarked that the challenges were unprecedented. “We are truly sorry that we need to take this step as a school or university navigating unprecedented challenges,” he noted, attributing the situation largely to the administration’s actions, which have introduced more financial uncertainty.

Impact on Staff

Details about the number of staff affected by the layoffs haven’t been shared. However, it was noted that previous layoffs occurred in April at the Harvard School of Public Health, with other departments considering similar cuts.

Notification for those impacted by the layoffs is expected to be communicated on Wednesday afternoon, as Weinstein emphasized the difficulty of this moment for the institution.