The University of Chicago announced plans to cut $100 million from its budget, citing profound federal policy changes and ongoing multi-year deficits. President Paul Alivisatos indicated that faculty and staff layoffs would be necessary as part of the cost reductions. This marks a warning sign for higher education institutions grappling with financial pressures amid federal funding uncertainties. Similar challenges face other elite schools, highlighting a systemic shift impacting the academic sector's sustainability and operational models.