The Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal funding from the campus in March.
Columbia University announced Tuesday that it has laid off 180 staff members funded by federal grants that were affected by the Trump administration’s decision to cut the university’s funding.
In March, the administration revoked $400 million in federal funding, citing Columbia’s “inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” The government followed the funding cut with a list of demands, which Columbia largely agreed to, in hopes of restarting negotiations to restore the grants.
These demands included prohibiting students from wearing masks during protests, hiring campus security officers with arrest authority, and appointing a new senior vice provost to oversee the Department of Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies.
The layoffs were outlined in a letter from acting President Claire Shipman and Provost Angela V. Olinto, who said the university is pursuing a twofold strategy: attempting to rebuild ties with federal agencies and cutting costs in the interim.
“Columbia’s leadership continues discussions with the federal government to resume work on these and other affected research awards,” the letter stated. “We are preparing for all scenarios, but the financial and research toll is significant.”
University officials said the 180 staff affected had been working either fully or partially on the defunded grants and represent about 20% of those supported under federal awards from the Trump administration.
Due to the budget constraints, some departments will scale back activities and operate with reduced research infrastructure.
“These decisions are not made lightly,” the letter concluded. “Columbia remains firmly committed to its mission of innovation, discovery, and academic excellence.”
Last week, hundreds of Columbia University students, faculty, staff, and alumni held a 25-hour “speak out” protest, condemning university leadership for yielding to the Trump administration’s demands after it revoked millions in federal funding.
Student David Guirgis, speaking at the rally, described the cuts as “an all-out attack on science and academic freedom.” He added, “We are pioneers in biomedical, legal, and environmental science research, and all of that was slashed simply because the Trump administration held a vendetta against universities.”
In a letter to the university community, Columbia officials stated that they would continue making careful budget decisions—even in areas not directly tied to federal funding—to safeguard long-term financial health. These measures include salary freezes for most employees in the upcoming fiscal year, workforce reductions through attrition, and the launch of a voluntary retirement incentive program.
“In the coming weeks and months, we will need to continue to take actions that preserve our financial flexibility and allow us to invest in areas that drive us forward,” the letter read. “This is a deeply challenging time across higher education, and we are working to navigate immense uncertainty with precision, though that process will be imperfect.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
