CITIZENS NEWS

Johns Hopkins cuts 2,000 jobs after Trump ends $800m in federal funding

By isabelle // 2025-03-17

• Johns Hopkins University will lay off over 2,000 workers globally due to the Trump administration cutting $800 million in federal funding.
• Nearly 2,000 job losses are overseas, raising concerns about U.S. taxpayer dollars funding foreign operations.
• The layoffs span public health, medical schools, and international health nonprofits, marking the largest in the university’s history.
• The Trump administration has canceled 83% of USAID contracts, realigning federal spending with U.S. interests under an "America First" agenda.
• Johns Hopkins' overreliance on federal funding highlights vulnerabilities for elite institutions amid policy shifts and fiscal reforms.

Johns Hopkins University has announced that it will lay off over 2,000 workers worldwide following the Trump administration’s decision to terminate $800 million in federal funding. The cuts, which include 247 domestic positions and 1,975 jobs in 44 foreign countries, underscore the Biden-era federal funding largesse that has left institutions overly dependent on taxpayer dollars. The layoffs, the largest in the university’s history, highlight the need for an “America First” approach to federal spending, ensuring taxpayer money prioritizes domestic priorities over international ventures. The layoffs span Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health, its medical school, and Jhpiego, a nonprofit focused on international health. The university described the decision as a “difficult day for our entire community,” attributing the cuts to the termination of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding. Notably, the majority of the job losses, which amount to nearly 2,000 positions, are concentrated overseas, raising questions about why American tax dollars have been subsidizing foreign operations rather than addressing pressing domestic needs. This shift aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to realign federal spending with U.S. interests. Since taking office in January, President Trump has frozen foreign aid and development funding, canceling 83% of USAID contracts—5,200 in total—deemed misaligned with national priorities. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as acting USAID administrator, stated that these programs “did not serve (and in some cases harmed) the core national interests of the United States.”

Dependency on federal funding exposed

Johns Hopkins’ dependence on federal funding reveals a troubling trend among elite academic institutions. According to university president Ron Daniels, nearly half of Johns Hopkins’ funding last year came from federal research dollars. This overreliance has left the institution vulnerable to market realities and policy shifts, particularly when fiscal responsibility is restored. Johns Hopkins is not alone in facing the consequences of federal funding cuts. Columbia University recently lost $400 million in grants due to allegations of anti-Semitism on campus, while the University of Maine saw $30 million in funding canceled after its governor clashed with the Trump administration over transgender athletes in sports. More than 50 universities are under investigation as the administration seeks to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which it views as wasteful and misaligned with national interests. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly defended the administration’s actions, stating, “President Trump is streamlining federal agencies to eliminate wasteful DEI projects and make more funds available for scientific research, not less. He will support policies that bolster our public health, cut programs that do not align with the agenda that the American people gave him a mandate in November to implement, and keep programs that put America First.” The layoffs at Johns Hopkins University serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of overreliance on federal funding and the need to prioritize American interests in federal spending. While the cuts are undoubtedly painful for those affected, they underscore the importance of fiscal responsibility and the need to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to benefit Americans first. As the Trump administration continues to realign federal spending with its “America First” agenda, institutions like Johns Hopkins must adapt to a new era of accountability and prioritize domestic needs over international ventures. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com Reuters.com NBCNews.com

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