US EditionDuke University cut $299 million through buyouts, building closures in response to federal cuts
Duke’s $364 million cuts include 5% staff buyouts and faculty retirements to offset federal funding losses, aiming for $350 million in savings by 2030, officials said.
- This year, Duke University enacted a $364 million cost-cutting program in response to reduced federal funding, starting with President Vincent Price's March announcement of a hiring freeze and administrative reviews.
- Federal moves to cap Facilities and Administrative reimbursement rates at 15% from around 60% and directives targeting DEI grants created major funding uncertainty for universities.
- Mid‑August layoffs included 45 employees, with 599 of 939 staff accepting the VSIP, and 82 of 273 faculty taking retirement incentives, according to Duke.
- Per a September Academic Council presentation, Duke achieved $229 million in FY2026 savings and expects a $74 million surplus, with Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis saying `In the aggregate, we’re so much better positioned than had we not taken the action we did`.
- Amid calls from faculty groups, the AAUP urged Duke to halt buyouts, while alumni and Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams pushed to resist `authoritarian intrusions` and uphold values, with disputes over governance at the September Arts & Sciences Council meeting.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Duke University Federal Funding Cuts Force Budget Reductions
Duke University has announced major budget reductions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars following federal funding cuts tied to policy changes under President Trump’s administration. University leaders said the reductions were necessary to address anticipated shortfalls in research funding and associated reimbursements. The decision marks one of the most significant financial adjustments in Duke’s recent history. According to reporting by …
Associated Press News
Duke University cut $299 million through buyouts, building closures in response to federal cuts
After the Trump administration mandated that universities cut diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, limit international student enrollment and decrease their reliance on federally funded research, Duke University has spent the year finding $299 million in savings.
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