Midwest Universities, Public Media Cut Hundreds Jobs

Washington University said it will cut 316 staff positions and close 198 vacant posts to save about $52 million annually, with reductions spanning the Danforth and Medical campuses and the central fiscal unit and including 38 roles in University Advancement as well as departmental spending and admissions cuts. University leaders attributed the measures to lost or frozen federal grants (including NIH), the new endowment tax, declining international enrollment and structural budget imbalances. The University of Missouri–St. Louis laid off roughly 40 facilities staff and will outsource custodial, maintenance and groundskeeping to HES Facilities Management starting Nov. 1, inviting affected employees to apply to the vendor. Public media outlets have also been hit: PBS North Carolina cut 32 positions after a $4.8 million shortfall tied to a congressional rescissions bill rolling back public-media funding, and WFAE reported related financial strains. Local officials warned the moves will harm jobs, research and the regional economy.