Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is laying off staff and slashing budgets in response to steep financial pressures triggered by recent federal funding reductions, visa restrictions for international students, and potential higher taxes on endowments. Dean Jeremy Weinstein confirmed that cost-saving efforts—including hiring freezes, canceled building projects, and lease terminations—proved insufficient, necessitating personnel reductions.
These measures follow the Trump administration’s freeze on billions in research grants, heightened scrutiny of university policies on antisemitism, and new limitations on student visa programs. HKS anticipates nearly half of its federally funded research could wind down next year if current conditions persist. Contingency plans for disrupted programs include online teaching and a satellite campus in Canada to support students affected by visa constraints.
These developments mark a pivotal shift for Harvard’s public policy school, which heavily relies on federal grants and international enrollment, and underscore the broader financial challenges facing elite universities.