Monday, February 24th, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
Congress has passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through March 14, 2025. However, without an extension or a final budget, we could face a partial shutdown by mid-March. While we cannot predict the exact outcome, past shutdowns provide insight into what we might expect. Here, we outline some key considerations for faculty.
- Existing Awards: Federally funded research projects should continue as planned. While a shutdown may delay our ability to draw down federal funds, this will not invalidate existing awards, and Research Assistant (RA) funding is expected to remain intact.
- New Proposal Submissions: Proposal reviews and new award processing will likely be suspended during a shutdown. While submission systems (e.g., Research.gov, Grants.gov) may be offline, we encourage faculty to continue preparing proposals and submit them by their published deadlines. If deadlines are affected, agencies will likely issue new guidance once the government reopens.
- Agency Communications: Federal program officers and administrative staff will be furloughed, making it difficult to receive updates or approvals on pending grants and renewals. Faculty should anticipate delays in processing.
Research Infrastructure: Access to federally managed research databases and compliance systems may be limited, depending on agency policies.