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Fox News
7 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Harvard Kennedy School announces layoffs after Trump cuts billions in funding
The Harvard Kennedy School of Government will lay off staff after federal funding cuts and endowment tax threats on Wednesday, according to an email from the dean of the school that was obtained by Fox News Digital. Without mentioning the Trump administration directly, Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy M. Weinstein announced in an email to faculty and staff that the cuts were in response to "unprecedented new headwinds" creating "significant financial challenges." These included a "substantial proposed increase in the endowment tax" and "massive cuts to federal funding of research." He also cited the impact on international student enrollment after the administration eliminated the student visa program due to "pro-terrorist conduct" at Harvard's campus protests. According to the Kennedy School, international students made up 59 percent of the school's student body last year, and 52 percent on average in the past five years. The Kennedy School has been planning for budget cuts since February, but the White House's recent actions appear to have exacerbated the circumstances. The Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in funding to the university and threatened to revoke its tax-exempt status due to its handling of antisemitism on campus in the wake of the October 7 terror attacks on Israel by Hamas. The Department of Education's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism released a statement on May 13, citing recent reporting that "has exposed the Harvard Law Review's (HLR) pattern of endemic race discrimination when evaluating articles for inclusion in its journal." The findings resulted in the Trump administration cutting an additional $450 million in grants from the university. In addition to layoffs, Harvard has implemented "important steps" to reduce costs across the Kennedy School, Weinstein said, such as pauses in hiring and merit-based pay, ending a lease on the first floor of an office building, halting "non-urgent" construction and renovation projects, and "reducing spending" across each core department. "Unfortunately, those efforts alone will not be enough to address our current financial challenges," the dean wrote. "As a result, we need to lay off some members of our team and restructure other positions to ensure the long-term financial future of the Kennedy School." Weinstein stated that managers would inform staff affected by the layoffs on Wednesday afternoon. "This is an extremely difficult moment, and one that we did everything possible to avoid," Weinstein added. "I am truly sorry that we need to take this step as we navigate unprecedented challenges as a School and University," Weinstein wrote, while also noting that the administration's actions caused "even greater financial uncertainty." The Harvard Kennedy School declined to disclose to Fox News Digital how many staff members were laid off. The Harvard School of Public Health implemented layoffs in April and other schools are considering cutting staff as well, the Harvard Crimson reported Thursday. The Trump administration did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Harvard and University of Toronto make contingency plan for international students
FILE PHOTO: A view of the Business School campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Faith Ninivaggi/File Photo TORONTO - Harvard University and the University of Toronto have unveiled a contingency plan that would allow select Harvard graduate students to continue their studies in Canada if U.S. visa restrictions prevent them from re-entering the United States. It is the first international student backup strategy announced since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security moved last month to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. A federal judge has since blocked the government's move. In response to potential U.S. visa challenges, students at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government who are unable to return to the United States will have the option to continue their studies through a visiting student program at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. The program would combine courses taught by Kennedy and Munk faculty, the deans of both institutions said in a statement sent to Reuters this week. The contingency plans are being announced to ease student uncertainty, but will only be implemented if there is enough demand from those unable to enter the U.S. due to visa or entry restrictions, the statement said. 'With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year," Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein said. The program will be available to international students who have already completed one year at the U.S. campus. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has threatened or moved to cut billions of dollars in federal research funding for Harvard. The administration has accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism and campus violence, violating reporting requirements, and coordinating with foreign entities, including China's Communist Party, in ways that raise national security concerns. Over the past five years, 52% of Kennedy students have come from outside the United States, the school's media office said. The school enrolls 739 students from 92 countries in programs aimed at developing leadership in public policy and government, according to the Harvard International Office website. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNA
Harvard and University of Toronto make contingency plan for international students
TORONTO: Harvard University and the University of Toronto on Thursday (Jun 26) unveiled a contingency plan that would allow select Harvard graduate students to continue their studies in Canada if US visa restrictions prevent them from re-entering the United States. It is the first international student backup strategy announced since the US Department of Homeland Security moved last month to strip Harvard of its ability to enrol international students. A federal judge has since blocked the move. In response to potential visa challenges, students at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government who are unable to return to the US will have the option to continue their studies through a visiting student programme at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. The programme would combine courses taught by Kennedy and Munk faculty, the deans of both institutions said in a statement sent to Reuters. The contingency plans are being announced to ease student uncertainty, but will only be implemented if there is sufficient demand from those unable to enter the US due to visa or entry restrictions, the statement added. 'With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year," Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein said. The programme will be available to international students who have already completed one year at the US campus. US President Donald Trump's administration has threatened or moved to cut billions of dollars in federal research funding for Harvard. The administration has accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism and campus violence, violating reporting requirements, and coordinating with foreign entities, including China's Communist Party, in ways that raise national security concerns. Over the past five years, 52 per cent of Kennedy School students have come from outside the United States, the school's media office said. The school currently enrols 739 students from 92 countries in programmes aimed at developing leadership in public policy and government, according to the Harvard International Office website.
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Harvard and University of Toronto make contingency plan for international students
TORONTO, June 26 (Reuters) - Harvard University and the University of Toronto have unveiled a contingency plan that would allow select Harvard graduate students to continue their studies in Canada if U.S. visa restrictions prevent them from re-entering the United States. It is the first international student backup strategy announced since the U.S. Department of Homeland Security moved last month to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. A federal judge has since blocked the government's move. In response to potential U.S. visa challenges, students at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government who are unable to return to the United States will have the option to continue their studies through a visiting student program at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. The program would combine courses taught by Kennedy and Munk faculty, the deans of both institutions said in a statement sent to Reuters this week. The contingency plans are being announced to ease student uncertainty, but will only be implemented if there is enough demand from those unable to enter the U.S. due to visa or entry restrictions, the statement said. 'With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year," Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein said. The program will be available to international students who have already completed one year at the U.S. campus. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has threatened or moved to cut billions of dollars in federal research funding for Harvard. The administration has accused the university of failing to adequately address antisemitism and campus violence, violating reporting requirements, and coordinating with foreign entities, including China's Communist Party, in ways that raise national security concerns. Over the past five years, 52% of Kennedy students have come from outside the United States, the school's media office said. The school enrolls 739 students from 92 countries in programs aimed at developing leadership in public policy and government, according to the Harvard International Office website.
CTV News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
U of T may host some international students from Harvard if visa restrictions prevent U.S. entry
The Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at UofT says it will welcome returning international grad students from Harvard Kennedy School. Some of the international students caught in the middle of a legal battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration may be able to complete their program at the University of Toronto as part of a contingency plan announced by the two schools this month. Second-year international students at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly known as the Harvard Kennedy School, who face barriers re-entering the United States due to visa restrictions will be given an opportunity to take part in a visiting student program at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at U of T. Last week, a U.S. federal judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to prevent Harvard from hosting international students but the legal hurdles for the ivy league university are not over. In a letter to students, the dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, Jeremy Weinstein, said two preliminary injunctions in federal court should allow international students to obtain their visas and come to the U.S. while the litigation continues. 'To be clear, our top priority remains welcoming our new and returning students to campus—and the two preliminary injunctions are an important step toward making that happen,' Weinstein's letter read. 'We are announcing these contingency plans now to alleviate the uncertainty many students feel.' The visiting student program at the University of Toronto will not officially launch 'unless there is sufficient demand' from students who cannot enter the U.S., he added. Students, the university said, will take a mix of courses taught by Harvard Kennedy School faculty, both online and in-person, as well as instructors from the University of Toronto. For students who choose not to participate in the visiting student program in Toronto, a second option will allow new and returning students to take a 'blended-learning program' that involves online instruction and three 'intensive, in-person convenings' in cities around the world. 'During these convenings, students will participate in credit-bearing sessions taught by HKS faculty and engage in co-curricular activities,' the letter read. Students who attend U of T to complete their studies would be enrolled as full-time, non-degree students and their participation in the program would not reduce the number of spaces available for U of T students in any academic programs or in university housing, the Munk School said in an announcement on its website. Those who elect to take part in the visiting student program will be required to apply for a Canadian study permit by mid-July and 'may wish to do so sooner,' the Harvard Kennedy School said on its website. 'With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year,' Weinstein said in a written statement emailed to 'We are deeply grateful for the support of the Munk School and other partners, who are helping to ensure that we can continue to provide all HKS students with the excellent education they deserve.' The Harvard Kennedy School said it hosts international students from more than 100 countries and over the past five years, international students have made up about 52 per cent of the student population. 'These are exceptional times,' Janice Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, said in a written statement. 'If Harvard Kennedy School international students are not able to complete their studies in Cambridge. Mass., the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy looks forward to providing shared academic and co-curricular experiences for students from both our schools.' With files from The Associated Press
