Harvard University Freezes Hiring Amid Financial Uncertainty

Officials say financial uncertainties linked to shifting federal policies are affecting faculty and staff recruitment.

People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Mass., on June 29, 2023. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

Harvard University has announced a temporary hiring freeze for faculty and staff as part of a broader effort to manage “financial uncertainties” caused by “rapidly shifting federal policies.”

The decision, which takes effect immediately, was detailed in a letter from Harvard President Alan M. Garber and other top administrators on March 10.