Hey there! Is it just me, or does NASA get all the best deadline extensions?

While the rest of us are scrambling to meet our deadlines, NASA just scored an extra week to submit their mass layoff plans. They’re, you know, busy with the SpaceX rescued astronauts who’ve been stranded in space for nine months. When your excuse includes “sorry, had to rescue astronauts,” you win the extension game.

The space agency received this deadline extension due to numerous high-priority missions occurring simultaneously: the launch of SPHEREx and PUNCH, plus preparations for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 launch. This temporary reprieve follows the eleventh-hour cancellation of probationary employee firings last month, providing a brief respite amid broader federal workforce reduction initiatives.

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Today’s edition is a 4-minute read. Here’s what to expect 

 Universities freeze hiring amid federal funding uncertainty

️ Tech firms face DEI scrutiny from EEOC

️ Oil boom barbershops rake in $180K salaries

 Layoffs hit Dept. of Education, Voice of America

  TA roles at Google, StubHub

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NEWS

One Thing You Should Know This Week

NPR: Universities Implement Hiring Freezes as Federal Funding Hangs in Balance

A growing number of prestigious universities across America – including Harvard, University of Washington, and the University of Pittsburgh – have announced hiring freezes, citing uncertainty around federal funding and potential policy shifts from the Trump administration.

 The big picture

The belt-tightening at Harvard – the university with the largest endowment in the world – underscores the widespread apprehension across higher education. According to NPR, these institutions are looking to preserve financial flexibility as they navigate uncertain terrain, with many pausing not just hiring but also travel, discretionary spending, and multi-year commitments.

The caution stems from multiple fronts: threats to pull federal funding from schools that don’t eliminate diversity initiatives, potential limits on National Institutes of Health funding for research universities, and the proposal to eliminate the Department of Education entirely.

 By the numbers:

• +12 – More than a dozen universities have announced hiring freezes
• $52.3 B – Harvard’s current endowment valuation, yet still feels vulnerable
• $168 M – Estimated potential loss from indirect cost rate cuts at University of Pittsburgh
• #1 – The NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world
• 63.7% – Current indirect cost rates at Johns Hopkins

 The research brain drain

The potential loss of funding creates a ripple effect beyond just university finances. America’s competitive edge in scientific research could be at risk, with experts warning that the talent pipeline might dry up.

In a joint statement, industry groups including the American Council on Education and the Association of American Universities stated: “The loss of this American workforce pipeline would be a blow to the U.S. economy, to American science and innovation, to patients and their families, and to our nation’s position in the world as a leader in medical research.”

Experts have called the potential brain drain “an unforced error and a gift to our nation’s potential adversaries,” noting that countries like China are actively recruiting top U.S. scientific talent.

 Global competition intensifies

The research sector in higher education represents more than just academic publications – it’s part of what makes the U.S. economically and scientifically competitive globally. The U.S. leads in higher education quality, with countries worldwide trying to replicate the American model. But as universities face potential funding cuts, other nations are ramping up their investments in R&D. Our leadership position could be jeopardized if federal funding continues to diminish significantly. As universities tighten their belts, highly qualified researchers and administrative professionals may enter the private sector job market, creating both opportunities and challenges for employers across industries.

 Grant funding crisis threatens innovation

The proposed NIH funding restrictions could devastate America’s research ecosystem. With indirect costs potentially capped at 15%, universities face impossible choices: absorb massive financial hits or scale back research operations. For students and early-career researchers, opportunities will shrink dramatically as universities prioritize essential functions over expansion and innovation. This funding squeeze comes as global competitors like China are dramatically increasing their R&D investments, potentially undermining America’s historical leadership in scientific innovation and discovery.

 What recruiters should keep in mind

Prepare for an unprecedented influx of academic talent into the private sector. The market will soon see highly specialized researchers with transferable skills in data analysis, grant writing, and project management. Smart recruiters will build bridges to academic departments now, helping candidates translate their expertise while educating hiring managers on appropriate compensation structures for this unique talent pool.

️ Read more in the NPR.

NUMBERS

Numbers That’ll Make You Think

• $17.5 million — The settlement amount IT services giant Infosys will pay to resolve six class-action lawsuits over a data breach at Infosys McCamish Systems. Somewhere, an intern is realizing they clicked the wrong email attachment. (Staffing Industry)
• 85% — Chief people officers in Australia and New Zealand actively upskilling beyond traditional human resources functions. It’s 2025 – HR leaders are now expected to be part coach, part therapist, part business strategist … and probably still the unofficial office DJ. (Staffing Industry)
• 74% — Working parents back in the office full-time or hybrid who now expect more childcare support from employers. If the office isn’t providing childcare, it better come with a nap room and some fruit snacks. (HR Brew)
• $180,000 — Annual income potential for barbers in Midland-Odessa, Texas, at the heart of America‘s oil boom. Skipping the line at these barbershops will cost you $60-75, but oil workers with no time to spare are happy to pay—because a bad haircut really stays with you. (WSJ)

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INDUSTRY INTEL

M&A Deals, Industry Moves, & Other Things To Know

• The Trump administration sent letters to 20 major law firms questioning the legality of their diversity programs, as the EEOC expands its fight against DEI practices in the private sector. (WSJ)
• HR tech rivals Deel and Rippling engaged in corporate espionage drama, with Rippling filing a lawsuit alleging Deel recruited an employee to steal client data and conduct thousands of unauthorized searches. Spy vs. spy – but instead of cool gadgets, it’s just spreadsheets and Slack messages. (CTech)
• HR platform JobGet acquired restaurant job marketplace Seasoned, following its recent purchase of Snagajob, creating the largest hiring platform for hourly workers across food service, hospitality, and retail. (HR Tech Feed)
• IT services provider TCS appointed Sudeep Kunnumal as its new chief human resources officer after 24 years with the company, replacing the retiring Milind Lakkad. At this point, Sudeep probably knows every printer error code by heart. (Staffing Industry)
• Layoff attitudes are shifting from shame to “righteous anger,” according to Melanie Ehrenkranz, founder of the “Laid Off” newsletter which now has 6,000+ subscribers sharing layoff stories. (CNBC)

OPEN ROLES

Jobs You Might Want (For Yourself!)

• Technology company Google is hiring an Administrative Business Partner based in New York, NY
• Health and wellness company Nourish is hiring a Head of People & Talent based in New York, NY
• Online ticket marketplace StubHub is hiring a Senior People Experience Officer based in New York, NY
• Fintech company Brex is hiring a Senior Talent Management Lead based in New York, NY
• Artificial intelligence company Scale AI is hiring a Manager of Recruiting Operations based in New York, NY
• Global apparel brand Levi Strauss & Co is hiring a Senior Talent, Diversity and Inclusion Manager based in San Francisco, CA

For more of these roles delivered to your inbox every Monday, subscribe to the Talivity Jobs newsletter by clicking here. For a full list of open roles, head over to our job board by clicking here.

LAYOFFS

Places For You To Source Fresh Talent

• The Department of Education initiated mass layoffs affecting 1,315 employees – nearly 50% of its workforce – with impacted staff being placed on administrative leave starting March 21. (ABC News)
• Voice of America and its affiliated networks suffered massive workforce cuts – and essentially ceased operations – as the Trump admin terminated employment for virtually all 1,300 staff members following an executive order to reduce federal bureaucracy. (CNN)
• Furniture retailer Wayfair is eliminating 340 jobs in its tech division as part of a restructuring effort, with plans to close its Austin Technology Development Center and consolidate operations into core hubs. (Yahoo Finance)
• Tech giant HP announced plans to cut 2,500 employees over the next 18 months as the company’s shares dropped 19% on weak earnings outlook. (CNBC)
• Social media platform TikTok is moving forward with redundancies affecting around 300 jobs at its Dublin headquarters, with layoffs expected to take effect in April. (RTE)
• Seattle-based Fleet tech company Zonar Systems laid off an undisclosed number of employees following its acquisition by GPS Trackit. (Biz Journal)

  Thanks for reading!