Stanford University has laid off more than 360 employees, including the director of its Office for Inclusion, Belonging and Intergroup Communication, as part of broader staff reductions totaling 363 positions this fall. The university attributed these layoffs to budget constraints linked to federal funding policies implemented under U.S. President Donald Trump. This development reflects growing financial pressures on elite U.S. universities amid federal funding cuts. Separately, Harvard University faces a potential 40% reduction in its endowment due to similar White House policies. These actions are part of a larger pattern of unprecedented federal pressure on higher education institutions to alter their practices, raising questions about how universities will respond. The Trump administration's approach has also affected other sectors, including technology, where the dismantling of the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) and targeted meetings with CEOs have disrupted lobbying efforts.