Harvard, MIT, others announce hiring freezes amid Trump funding cuts. What it means.
- Harvard University is the latest school to implement a hiring freeze as federal funding remains uncertain.
- President Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for schools that allow "illegal" protests.
- Universities use millions of dollars in federal funding for student aid and research programs.
Harvard University announced this week that it has implemented a temporary hiring freeze, citing "substantial financial uncertainties driven by rapidly shifting federal policies."
The announcement on Monday came days after President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funding to universities that allow "illegal" protests. The Trump administration pulled $400 million in funding from Columbia University on Friday.
"We need to prepare for a wide range of financial circumstances, and strategic adjustments will take time to identify and implement," Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in the announcement.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology also announced a similar hiring freeze last month. Other schools including the University of Vermont, University of Notre Dame and Emory University began theirs as recently as this week.
Why is Harvard in a hiring freeze?
While Harvard's announcement did not explicitly mention Trump's proposed funding cuts, it did cite "rapidly shifting federal policies."
"It is meant to preserve our financial flexibility until we better understand how changes in federal policy will take shape and can assess the scale of their impact," the statement said.
Harvard is one of 10 universities set to be visited by a Justice Department antisemitism task force, which comes as pro-Palestinian students have held demonstrations protesting the bombardment of Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war.
How much federal funding does Harvard get?
Harvard received $686 million in federal funding during fiscal year 2024, according to the university.
Federal funding for universities is typically used for federal student aid programs and research and development initiatives, according to USAFacts.
What is the point of a hiring freeze?
A hiring freeze is when a company stops hiring new employees or creating new positions to be filled, according to the Corporate Finance Institute.
It is typically implemented when a company needs to limit operating costs and wants to avoid laying off employees.
Melina Khan is a trending reporter for the Paste BN Network - New England, which serves more than a dozen affiliated publications across New England. She can be reached at MKhan@gannett.com.