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Update from President Kornbluth on MIT’s response to federal actions

MIT President Sally Kornbluth

Hello, everyone.

I’m not bringing you any breaking news. I just want to offer a couple of observations about recent developments…and let you know how we intend to go forward from here.

As you may be seeing in your own units, as federal actions continue to unfold, MIT is facing an evolving set of pressures.  The list is long and growing but they include:

  • Efforts by the National Institutes of Health to cap indirect costs.
  • The risk of a sharply higher tax on the income from MIT’s endowment.
  • Executive Orders on a range of issues that directly affect our community.
  • And, in less than two weeks, the real possibility of a government shutdown. 

We’re responding to the financial uncertainty and new constraints as prudently as we can. 

By now, most of you are aware of the budgetary steps: 

  • We recently instituted a hiring freeze on all staff positions that are not required for safety, compliance or other critical needs. 

  • And in planning allocations from the central budget for the next year, we made 5 to 10 percent cuts for our academic and administrative units including my own office.

Many departments are reducing the number of graduate students they’re admitting this year; for an institution grounded in research and education, having to turn away superb young talent is a striking loss. And it’s clearly a loss for the nation too.

But it’s critical to take these steps now to put MIT on as strong a footing as possible to contend with changes yet to come.

And while we’re working to shore up our foundation here at home, we’re also working intensely to make the case for the vital importance of MIT…and of institutions like it…to ensuring the nation’s security, prosperity, health and quality of life. 

We’re talking to people in DC…we’re talking at the state level…and in industry; I’ll be in DC again this week, in fact, my third trip since late January. On certain issues, we’re also working closely with peer schools. And when appropriate…we are going to court.

As the situation evolves, we’ll find ways to give you all a clearer sense of our financial position and the steps we anticipate from here. For now, you can consult a new webpage we’ve created, linked off the top of the MIT homepage, to keep you up to date on these issues.

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As much as I’d like to offer reassurance, given the realities of what we’re facing, I think it’s very important that I don’t sugarcoat things. What I can do, however, is promise you:

  • That we’re going into this with clear eyes about our options, and what’s at stake
  • That I’m keenly aware of the effects on all of you – personally, professionally and in terms of morale
  • And that I’ll be as open with you as I can.

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In the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to a lot of people outside MIT…people who have serious concerns about American higher education. 

But when I talk about the incredible work happening in our labs, and our classrooms, and our whole innovation ecosystem…and when I describe the values and culture that drive this community…they always want to hear more.

Telling and retelling these inspiring MIT stories has only reinforced my instinctive confidence in the immense value and significance of the work we’re here to do together. 

We cannot ever lose sight of that. And we all need to make that case now, with confidence, everywhere we can. Please know that I will be relentless in arguing for the value that MIT brings to the nation and the world – thanks to all of you.