USC cuts more than 900 jobs amid fiscal deficit

The University of Southern California has carried out sweeping financial cuts, with Interim President Beong-Soo Kim confirming in November 2025 that more than 900 employees had been laid off since July 2025 to address an operating deficit that exceeded $200 million for fiscal year 2025. The article focuses on a wrongful termination lawsuit by a former senior investigator but situates it against this broader backdrop of layoffs and austerity measures; USC also pursued efforts to place as many as 200 impacted employees into reorganized positions. The layoffs are presented as part of efforts to close a growing deficit (up from $158 million the prior year) amid wider financial pressures in higher education. USC has stated it takes allegations of discrimination seriously and will defend against the lawsuits related to terminations and employment disputes arising during this period.

University of Southern California cut 900 jobs.

That is roughly 2.3% of the 40,000 people University of Southern California employs.

LayoffTalk has tracked 45 layoff events at University of Southern California since July 2023, including 1,130 jobs documented in official WARN filings, with 31 additional events known from news reporting.