13-05-2025
University of Maryland, Baltimore to lay off employees amid federal budget reductions
The The University of Maryland announced that it is laying off 30 full-time staff, and eliminating 30 vacant positions after federal cuts to the National Institutes of Health and other research funding.
According to The Baltimore Banner, University President Bruce Jarrell delivered the update to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Monday night.
"Modest salary reductions" will impact about 1000 university employees, and save the school about $3 million.
The salary reductions are expected to impact employees at UMD's medical school and will include Jarell and other university leadership.
The cuts to federal funding come on top of a state budget cut of $111 million from the University System of Maryland. The cut was part of Gov. Wes Moore's 2025 budget, which aims to reduce Maryland's $3 million deficit.
Other institutions face federal funding cuts
In February, the Trump administration ordered U.S. colleges and universities to end diversity programs or risk losing federal funding.
Just last month, the University of Maryland, College Park said more than 40 research grants and contracts were canceled due to cuts by the Trump administration. The grants totaled about $12 million.
The funds were canceled due to the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from organizations and institutions nationwide.
The crackdown kicked off with President Trump's executive order on Jan. 21, which ended DEI programs at the federal level.
Johns Hopkins University in March said it was laying off 2,200 workers, because of a loss of funding from USAID. JHU also said it was impacted by new caps placed on indirect research costs by the NIH.
The Department of Education warned state education commissioners in April that federal financial assistance for K-12 schools may be at risk unless they confirm compliance with "antidiscrimination obligations," including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Why is the Trump administration working to dismantle DEI?
DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, describes practices aimed at increasing diversity across professional spaces.
Critics claim DEI programs undermine merit-based systems, while supporters maintain they foster fairness and prevent discrimination in professional settings.
Though President Trump has the authority to eliminate federal DEI initiatives, states, organizations, and private institutions still have control over their programs.
However, institutions like UMD, and other schools nationwide that depend on federal funding, have to choose between eliminating so-called DEI programs and dealing with major funding losses announced that it is laying off 30 full-time staff, and eliminating 30 vacant positions after federal cuts to the National Institutes of Health and other research funding.
According to The Baltimore Banner, University President Bruce Jarrell delivered the update to the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Monday night.
"Modest salary reductions" will impact about 1000 university employees, and save the school about $3 million.
The salary reductions are expected to impact employees at UMD's medical school and will include Jarell and other university leadership.
The cuts to federal funding come on top of a state budget cut of $111 million from the University System of Maryland. The cut was part of Gov. Wes Moore's 2025 budget, which aims to reduce Maryland's $3 million deficit.
Other institutions face federal funding cuts.
In February, the Trump administration ordered U.S. colleges and universities to end diversity programs or risk losing federal funding.
Just last month, the University of Maryland, College Park said more than 40 research grants and contracts were canceled due to cuts by the Trump administration. The grants totaled about $12 million.
The funds were canceled due to the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from organizations and institutions nationwide.
The crackdown kicked off with President Trump's executive order on Jan. 21, which ended DEI programs at the federal level.
Johns Hopkins University in March said it was laying off 2,200 workers, because of a loss of funding from USAID. JHU also said it was impacted by new caps placed on indirect research costs by the NIH.
The Department of Education warned state education commissioners in April that federal financial assistance for K-12 schools may be at risk unless they confirm compliance with "antidiscrimination obligations," including eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Why is the Trump administration working to tackle DEI?
DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, describes practices aimed at increasing diversity across professional spaces.
Critics claim DEI programs undermine merit-based systems, while supporters maintain they foster fairness and prevent discrimination in professional settings.
Though President Trump has the authority to eliminate federal DEI initiatives, states, organizations, and private institutions still have control over their programs.
However, institutions like Towson University UMD, and other schools nationwide that depend on federal funding have to choose between eliminating so-called DEI programs and dealing with major funding losses.
