Columbia University has announced plans to lay off nearly 180 staff members following the loss of $400 million in federal funding, a move linked to the institution’s handling of student protests against the war in Gaza.
The layoffs represent around 20 percent of employees whose positions were funded through now-canceled federal grants. In a statement released Tuesday, the university described the decision as a difficult but necessary step. “We have had to make deliberate, considered decisions about the allocation of our financial resources,” the statement read. “Those decisions also impact our greatest resource, our people. We understand this news will be hard.”
University spokesperson Jessica Murphy declined to say whether further job cuts are expected but noted that the school is implementing various measures to improve financial stability. These include freezing salary increases and introducing voluntary retirement packages.
As part of its cost-cutting strategy, Columbia will also scale back its research efforts. Some departments will wind down specific studies, while others will reduce operations as they seek alternative funding.
Research projects affected by the cuts include development of an antiviral nasal spray for infectious diseases, studies on maternal mortality and morbidity, treatment for chronic illnesses such as long COVID, neonatal care for infants with opioid withdrawal, and colorectal cancer screenings.
