Columbia University announced on Tuesday that it will be laying off nearly 180 staff members after President Donald Trump decided to withdraw $400 million in funding due to the university's handling of student protests related to the Gaza conflict. The employees receiving non-renewal or termination notices make up around 20% of those funded by the now-terminated federal grants.

The university stated that the layoffs were a result of careful financial decisions, noting that these changes would also affect its most valuable resource—its people. University spokesperson Jessica Murphy declined to comment on the likelihood of additional layoffs but confirmed that steps are being taken to improve financial flexibility, including maintaining salary levels and offering voluntary retirement incentives.

Research at the university will be reduced, with some departments winding down their studies and others continuing research while seeking alternative funding. Affected projects include studies on antiviral nasal sprays for infectious diseases, maternal mortality, chronic illness treatments like long COVID, and newborn care, among others.

Marcel Agueros, secretary of Columbia’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, described the layoffs as "dispiriting" for faculty. The association has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the cuts are unlawful. University officials are hoping to restore the funding, but Agueros warned that it could take years to recover from the damage already caused.

In March, the Trump administration pulled the funding, citing the university's failure to address antisemitism on campus during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Columbia subsequently agreed to a set of demands from the administration, including changes to the student disciplinary process, restrictions on protests, a new definition of antisemitism, and oversight of the Middle Eastern studies program.

After Columbia announced these changes, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the university was on the right path but did not specify when or if the funding would be restored. Columbia was at the center of U.S. campus protests in spring 2023, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupying a campus building, which led to numerous arrests. Trump had previously indicated he would cut federal funding to universities perceived as too lenient toward antisemitism.