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UMass Chan Medical School has rescinded provisional admission offers to several dozen PhD applicants to the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences for this upcoming fall.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 impacted students were offered priority consideration for the next admission cycle without the need to submit another application.

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.

A university spokesperson attributed it to “uncertainties related to the funding of biomedical research in this country.”