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IBL News | New York
Boston University (BU) announced it is cutting its annual $2.5 billion operating budget by 5% for the upcoming year and laying off 120 staff members, primarily due to the “recent and ongoing federal actions” by the Trump administration. BU will also eliminate 120 jobs that are currently open.
University leaders also cited other challenges such as declining graduate enrollment, a looming demographic drop-off in high school seniors, and rising inflation.
In addition, as a popular destination for international students (with a third of its students from abroad) and a research institution, BU can be impacted by the White House’s moves to restrict student visas and cut federal research spending. In 2024, it received $579 million in federal research funding.
Boston University’s President Melissa Gilliam said, “There is no way around this. Yet, it is also a necessary step in ensuring our future.”
Another challenge is the new increase to the federal endowment tax passed by Congress this month, which raises the rate from 1.4% to 4-8%.
About 3,000 graduate and PhD students who teach classes and conduct research at BU also received a sizable raise in October after a months-long strike.
