Xavier University laid off nearly 50 employees this week, calling the staff reduction a "difficult but necessary" move to maintain the school's financial health amid federal funding cuts.

The country's only historically Black Catholic university, which enrolls about 3,200 students, the New Orleans institution is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The layoffs come as colleges and universities face financial pressure due to changes under the Trump administration, including canceled research grants and new student loan restrictions, and an impending enrollment cliff caused by a lower birthrate.

"As with many universities, Xavier is navigating the significant challenges in the changing higher education landscape," the school said in a statement Thursday. It added that the layoffs

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