July 14, 2025: The University of Arizona is facing a major financial crisis after the suspension or termination of 64 federal research grants, slashing nearly $60 million in funding and sending shockwaves across its campus community.
According to internal university sources and Arizona media outlets, the affected grants—totaling $59.2 million—span crucial fields like science, engineering, health, and public service. The cuts, confirmed on an internal website as of July 8, threaten to derail dozens of research projects and jeopardize jobs for faculty, graduate students, and staff.
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University spokesperson Mitch Zak acknowledged the scope of the crisis, but noted that the pace of stop-work orders has recently slowed. He emphasized that the figures being tracked are part of an evolving situation, as the university continues to seek guidance from federal agencies.
The funding freeze at the University of Arizona is part of a broader statewide disruption. Arizona school districts are staring down a potential loss of nearly $120 million in federal education grants, while public health agencies face a $190 million reduction in federal support for disease surveillance and infrastructure programs.
For the University of Arizona, the loss of these grants threatens more than just finances—it risks the university’s reputation as a leading research institution. Faculty members are now racing to assess the fallout, pursue alternative funding, and lobby for the reinstatement of critical grants.
The timing couldn’t be worse, as the university continues to recover from earlier financial hurdles. The sudden uncertainty has heightened anxiety among researchers and administrators alike, with the future of key projects hanging in the balance.