Dear colleagues,
Last week, President Garber described the steps Harvard is taking to defend our University against unprecedented demands by the federal government that seek to dictate what we can teach, whom we can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry we can pursue. As the President noted, these demands are unlawful and beyond the government’s authority. The University has since filed a lawsuit to halt the announced funding freeze.
As all of us do, I stand with President Garber against the government’s overreach and the severe and long-lasting consequences of this federal disinvestment in research. As President Garber said in his message to the Harvard community, “indiscriminately slashing medical, scientific, and technological research undermines the nation’s ability to save American lives, foster American success, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation.” This isn’t just bad for Harvard; it’s bad for our nation and the world. Now is the time for steadiness and resolve as we face the challenges ahead.
As we have seen over the last several days, standing up for our values and independence as an institution comes with significant sacrifices. While there is much we still don’t know, the FAS is undertaking the difficult work of adapting to ever-changing circumstances. We hope for the best, but are planning for the worst. Guided by our core commitments to academic excellence, to academic freedom and open inquiry, and to a community that supports all of its members, I write to describe some immediate interventions and longer-term work that is currently underway.
Our first and most urgent focus is on planning for research continuity. As you know, the government has indicated it is freezing up to $3.2 billion in multiyear federal research funding to Harvard, which includes approximately $180 million supporting 505 principal investigators (PIs) in the FAS and SEAS each year. While Harvard is challenging the funding freeze in court, we need to plan as if a resolution to this case may not be reached for some time, and even then, only some funds may be returned to Harvard. Moreover, it is apparent that this period of disinvestment may not be temporary. Quite possibly, the federal funding landscape has changed for the long term, with far-reaching consequences for Harvard and for higher education.
As a PI on federally sponsored projects myself, I understand the gravity of the choices we must make to support our research mission in the face of limited financial resources. Disinvestment in research impacts not only the researcher, but also the next generation of scientists and engineers.
To help guide the FAS in difficult decisions ahead, I have appointed a new faculty committee, chaired by Steve Hyman, MD, Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor and Harald McPike Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. The Funding Priority Committee is made up of research faculty, who were nominated by department chairs for their expertise and judgement. They are working aggressively over the next 60 days to develop carefully considered funding priorities, as we begin to engage those faculty with sponsored funding in continuity planning.
In addition, we are pursuing immediate interventions to build additional financial capacity for the FAS. First, the FAS is pausing all non-essential capital projects and spending. Second, we will continue the staff and faculty hiring pause through the summer, at which point we will again reassess. And third, there will be no annual pay increases for exempt staff and faculty for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. These are difficult but necessary steps that aid our efforts to preserve resources, while investing in our academic mission and strategic priorities.
We will also undertake a formal review of the FAS’s administrative operations and footprint. To ensure the FAS has the resources necessary to invest in our research and teaching mission, it is essential that we identify opportunities to increase collaboration, integration, and ultimately, productivity, across our administrative workforce. I have appointed a new task force, chaired by Nina Zipser, who will serve as special advisor on strategic planning, to lead this important effort. The Task Force on Workforce Planning will conduct a comprehensive analysis of staffing across the FAS and all its units, and will develop a set of recommendations for actions. These recommendations may include proposals for staff reorganizations and reductions. This task force will benefit from broad engagement across the FAS community – including faculty and staff – in carrying out its charge.
These efforts will not be easy. Nothing about the current time is easy. The issues facing Harvard, and higher education as a whole, are as profound as any time in our nation’s history. It is incumbent upon us to meet the moment, and we will. The road ahead will be difficult, but I am confident that working together, we will come through as a stronger and better institution.
Sincerely,
Hopi
Hopi Hoekstra
Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences
C. Y. Chan Professor of Arts and Sciences
Xiaomeng Tong and Yu Chen Professor of Life Sciences