Harvard University President Alan M. Garber ’76 will voluntarily take a 25 percent salary cut in fiscal year 2026, as the university braces for nearly $3 billion in federal funding reductions under the Trump administration. The move, confirmed by Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain, comes as part of a broader effort by the university’s leadership to absorb some of the financial strain that has already affected faculty and staff. Garber has informed other senior administrators of his decision, and several have also committed to voluntary pay cuts, though the extent of their reductions remains unclear.

What is Alan Garber’s salary?

While Garber’s salary for FY25 has not been publicly disclosed, Harvard presidents typically earn more than $1 million annually. A 25 percent reduction would bring Garber’s FY26 salary down to approximately $750,000 — a symbolic but notable gesture given the scale of the impending financial hit. The pay cut is part of a series of cost-cutting measures Harvard has undertaken in response to the looming budget crisis. In March, the university froze faculty and staff hiring, urged schools to reduce discretionary spending, paused capital projects, and halted new multi-year commitments.

In April, it announced that there would be no merit-based pay raises for faculty and non-union staff in FY26. Most recently, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences was instructed to create contingency plans to manage budget shortfalls, as administrators acknowledged the likelihood of long-term financial consequences.

This is not the first time Garber has taken a voluntary pay cut in response to external crises. In 2020, while serving as provost, he reduced his salary by 25 percent during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the time, then-President Lawrence S. Bacow and several deans also took temporary pay cuts to help manage a projected $750 million revenue shortfall.

The current cuts at Massachusetts Hall mirror similar actions at peer institutions. Brown University President Christina H. Paxson and two senior administrators announced last month that they would each take a 10 percent pay cut in FY26. Garber’s decision also aligns with an independent initiative by Harvard faculty. More than 80 faculty members from various schools and academic units have pledged to donate 10 percent of their salaries for up to a year in support of the university, should it continue to resist federal funding threats.

“They are over payed anyways”

Internet swiftly reacted to this decision. A user noted, “Still paid too much.” Another added, “Evidently that massive endowment is untouchable.” Echoing the sentiment, a user claimed, “What is that like four students tuition for a year? Not much of a difference.” “They seem to be overpaid, more should reduce their salaries,” noted a user. A netizen jokingly said, “Aww, poor guy, now he’ll apply for food stamps, welfare and Medicaid.” “How can he live on $750,000 a year?,” wrote another.