Daijiworld Media Network- San Francisco

San Francisco, Aug 7: In a significant setback to one of America’s most prestigious universities, Stanford University has announced plans to lay off 363 staff members, citing substantial federal funding cuts under President Donald Trump's administration.

According to official filings accessed by AFP, the layoffs — set to affect employees across various departments — are part of a broader $140 million reduction in Stanford’s general funds budget for the upcoming academic year.

“This is the product of a challenging fiscal environment shaped in large part by federal policy changes affecting higher education,” said Stanford President Jon Levin and Provost Jenny Martinez in a joint statement released in late July.

The elite university, located near San Francisco and home to over 18,000 staff members, is not alone in facing the brunt of the Trump administration’s education policies. Similar job cuts have recently been announced at other top-tier institutions such as Harvard, Columbia, and Johns Hopkins.

Under Trump’s presidency, the White House had increasingly used federal education funding as a bargaining chip, pressuring top universities — which it claimed were "too liberal" — to revise curriculums, enrollment policies, and governance models. In addition, major research grants and spending for university-based research were either slashed or put on hold as part of broader budget cutbacks.

While the move has triggered criticism from academic circles, university leaders say they are left with no choice.

“These are difficult actions that affect valued colleagues and friends who have made important contributions to Stanford,” the statement read.

The announcement has added to growing concerns about the future of academic freedom and financial stability at major American universities, as they grapple with changing federal priorities and political scrutiny.