BREAKING: Potential Layoffs and Cuts in University Operations Despite $3 million in Federal Grants Standing Through Fall 2026

By: Maya Tinajero, Skyline Desk Chief

ALPINE – The Trump Administration’s budget cuts to minority-serving institutions have created a domino effect of chaos being heavily felt by Sul Ross University.

In an email sent Friday, President Carlos Hernandez informed faculty and staff that an appeal to reinstate almost half a million dollars in grants for technology studies at Hispanic Serving Institutions was denied. However, almost $3 million in federal grants through Fall 2026 stands.

Despite the standing federal grants, President Hernandez confirmed that a hiring freeze within the university is in place. The funding shortfall could also result in layoffs and cuts in university operations.

“Future losses related to these grants, coupled with the government shutdown, represent significant challenges to ongoing activities,” Hernandez wrote in the email, “We are continuing our review to identify alternatives in an effort to maximize operations and enrollment growth that will allow us to overcome these challenges.”

“Additionally, we will monitor institutional funding levels in the coming months to identify opportunities for operational sustainability and employee retention.” Hernandez pledged that “those who may be impacted” will be “notified individually.”

Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education, stated that the department’s reason for stopping funding to minority-serving institutions was to further their “commitment to ending discrimination in all forms across federally supported programs.” Since then, the Trump Administration has sent letters out to nine institutions asking for them to sign a compact with the federal government, requiring that they meet certain standards in exchange for access to some forms of federal funds and other benefits.