WORCESTER ― An immediate hiring freeze is in place at UMass Chan Medical School due to nationwide medical and research funding cuts being pursued by President Donald Trump's administration. Furloughs and layoffs are "necessary" and being discussed, said Tuesday's internal memo to the medical school community from top UMass Chan administrators.

UMass Chan Medical School has rescinded provisional admission offers to several dozen PhD applicants to the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences for this upcoming fall. The medical school, which is also freezing all hiring, is citing the uncertainty at the federal level as the Trump administration implements widespread cuts.

Leaders at UMass Chan Medical School are freezing hiring and spending, citing ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal funding. Several universities, including Harvard and MIT have taken similar steps.

The latest wave of cost-cutting measures comes after the Trump administration pulled $400 million from Columbia University and $800 million from Johns Hopkins.

The notice, signed by dean of the college, Mary Ellen Lane, called the decision "unfortunate" and said institutions across the country are "rescinding offers of admission as one means of controlling spending during a highly uncertain time.