It gets personal

[jon-nyc]

Johns Hopkins laid off 2k workers yesterday.

[Horace]

That's 247 American jobs and 2000 jobs in other countries.

https://thedailyrecord.com/2025/03/13/johns-hopkins-university-to-cut-2200-jobs-amid-lost-federal-funding/

[jon-nyc]

I can feel America getting greater already.

[Mik]

I thought the blanket J6 pardon smacked of laziness. Seems that is a trend. I approve of the goals but not the means.

[Renauda]

Sorry to learn of this jon. It seems so wasteful given the practical medical benefit that would have resulted. But as Blondie pointed out you and your team are smart, you’ll find a way.

[Jolly]

There will be blood.

I've already given the roasted chicken example. I think that's what will be done.

[Horace]

@Mik said in It gets personal:

I thought the blanket J6 pardon smacked of laziness. Seems that is a trend. I approve of the goals but not the means.

I don't think it's clear what those 2000 citizens of other countries were being paid to do, by the US taxpayers. This may or may not be a tragedy. But per se, it's what Maga was voted in to do.

[Mik]

That’s one example only and related to USAID. How many offshore employees did Jon’s study employ?

I think my point on laziness stands.

[Horace]

@Mik said in It gets personal:

That’s one example only and related to USAID. How many offshore employees did Jon’s study employ?

I think my point on laziness stands.

I'm lost regarding what we're actually talking about, but 83% of USAID programs were cut, after a 6 week review. We don't have any information about the Johns Hopkins programs that were cut, but I am sure it's safe to say that "people will die" narratives can be crafted. Cuts are hard, as those of us in the private sector who've been surrounded by layoffs our entire working lives will attest to. But I'm not going to get too precious about it.

[kluurs]

We're feeling it as well. My spouse's grant has been slated for termination. She's appealing and looking at alternative funding. It is challenging to think what the environment is going to be in a couple of months - let alone, years. She's done research on nerve regeneration involved in urologic conditions.

[Mik]

There’s no way to cut painlessly, I agree. I also believe there are taxpayer supported studies that are not worth the expense. But many if not most are. To cut them off in mid study while still proposing deficit spending seems less than due diligence.

[Horace]

I agree that cutting studies off in the middle is stupid and lazy.

[xenon]

If there were painful cuts across the board and belt tightening, that’d be one thing.

These seem like theatrical cuts, since the new budget will add a record amount to the deficit.

[Jolly]

I'm still waiting for an actual budget.

[Copper]

@xenon said in It gets personal:

the new budget will add a record amount to the deficit

Does the new budget exist?

[jon-nyc]

A budget resolution was passed, which outlines the increases or cuts expected from each committee of jurisdiction. So while we don't know precisely what the cuts are, we know generally.

[jon-nyc]

These are ‘preconditions’ set by the administration that are supposed to be met before they will sit down with Columbia.

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/6d3c124d8e20212d/85dec154-full.pdf

One wonders what the negotiations would then be about.

[jon-nyc]

FIRE’s take.

[Mik]

@jon-nyc said in It gets personal:

These are ‘preconditions’ set by the administration that are supposed to be met before they will sit down with Columbia.

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/6d3c124d8e20212d/85dec154-full.pdf

One wonders what the negotiations would then be about.

[blondie]

@kluurs Both of us here are thinking of the 2 of you there, hoping your wife’s research can continue. I can’t imagine having my life long passion, my area of expertise, being axed, after decades of contributing such good for medical research.