The Hill - The Trump administration is taking advantage of the entanglement of university finances and government funding, seeking to put schools on a short leash tied to their research capabilities. Columbia has already lost $400 million in grants over what the government calls inaction on antisemitism. Harvard is implementing a hiring freeze due to financial “uncertainties” in federal policy. And Johns Hopkins University announced Thursday it is letting go of 2,000 workers due to federal aid cuts.
While Republicans cheer these moves and others question why these big universities receive so much financial support in the first place, experts say scientific research relies largely on federal dollars and a lack thereof could lead to schools having to make sweeping changes in funding strategy.
“It is a long-standing relationship. As the federal government is pulling back on investments in those areas, it’s going to have severe consequences for institutions,” said Liz Clark, vice president of policy and research of the National Association of College and University Business Officers.
Most higher education institutions receive federal dollars in the form of student aid and Pell Grants, which President Trump has not yet threatened.
But it is a different story for research institutions, with hundreds of schools receiving federal funds for educational, medical, agricultural and other types of research programs. The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics found in fiscal 2021 colleges received around $49 billion in federal research and development funding.
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