Stanford lays off 360 staff amid Trump administration’s funding clampdown on universities

Stanford University has laid off 363 employees as part of budget cuts it says were driven by changes in federal funding policies under the Trump administration. The decision comes amid a broader financial strain facing US universities, some of which have seen funding frozen over campus protests and policy disagreements.

In an official statement, a Stanford spokesperson said, "Stanford is in the process of making budget reductions. Last week, many schools and units made staff workforce reductions. In total, 363 layoffs occurred."

The university had earlier announced a $140 million cut to its general funds budget for the upcoming year, citing a “challenging fiscal environment shaped in large part by federal policy changes affecting higher education.”


The Trump administration has taken a strict stance on universities over several issues including pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campuses, climate programs, transgender policies, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Officials allege some universities have failed to curb antisemitic environments amid protests against Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

Last week, over $330 million in federal funding was frozen for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), with the administration alleging that the university had failed to ensure a safe environment for Jewish and Israeli students. The Los Angeles Times reported that UCLA officials are now preparing to negotiate with the federal government regarding the freeze.

The administration has also settled investigations with Columbia University and Brown University. Columbia agreed to pay more than $220 million, while Brown committed to a $50 million payment. Both universities accepted certain terms set by the government. Settlement talks with Harvard University are still ongoing.

Civil rights advocates have raised alarms about the implications of these federal actions on academic freedom and campus speech. While the administration claims that universities allowed antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests, demonstrators — including Jewish advocacy groups — argue that criticism of Israel’s military actions and support for Palestinian rights is being wrongly labeled as antisemitism or extremism.

with reuters inputs