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WASHINGTON, Aug 5 (Reuters) – Stanford University said on Tuesday it has laid off over 360 employees, citing budget constraints that it attributed to the federal funding policies<\/u><\/a> of U.S. President Donald Trump<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian protests<\/u><\/a> against U.S. ally Israel’s war in Gaza<\/u><\/a>, climate initiatives, transgender policies<\/u><\/a> and diversity, equity and inclusion<\/u><\/a> programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Stanford is in the process of making budget reductions,” a university spokesperson said in emailed statement in response to media reports on the layoffs. “Last week, many schools and units made staff workforce reductions. In total, 363 layoffs occurred.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Californian university said in June it had made a $140 million reduction in the general funds budget for the upcoming year due to “a challenging fiscal environment shaped in large part by federal policy changes affecting higher education.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Last week, the Trump administration froze more than $330 million in funding for the University of California, Los Angeles, after alleging the university failed to prevent<\/u><\/a> a hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students since campus protests erupted after the start of Israel’s war in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday that UCLA leaders were preparing to negotiate with the Trump administration over the freeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The government has recently settled its probes with Columbia University<\/u><\/a>, which agreed to pay over $220 million, and Brown University, which said it will pay $50 million<\/u><\/a>. Both institutions accepted certain demands made by the government. Talks to settle with Harvard University<\/u><\/a> remain ongoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rights advocates have raised concerns about academic freedom and free speech over the government’s actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Trump administration alleges<\/u><\/a> universities allowed antisemitism during pro-Palestinian campus protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates<\/u><\/a> their criticism of Israel’s military assault in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n