Research Funding Updates

Recent executive orders signal shifts in federal research priorities that may impact ongoing projects and pending funding applications with federal agencies. OSPR will continue to share updates, guidance and resources as federal agencies adapt to these changes. 

2025 Federal Funding Guidance

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research (OSPR) is closely monitoring federal government and awarding agency developments.

At this time, we recommend researchers continue their current projects without interruption, unless advised to stop or adjust work (see the stop-work section). OSPR will continue to reach out to PIs of active grants across campus as needed.

Federal Government Shutdown (2025) 

The U.S. Federal Government shutdown began at the start of the federal fiscal year (October 1st)We outline any impacts that the potential shutdown might have on our grant activity.  

For active federal grants, we do not anticipate any adverse impact on our current grants in the event of a short-term shutdown. We will be in touch with you directly if your grant is affected in the long-term event.  

For faculty/staff working on submissions:  

  • Proposal preparation systems are expected to still be online during the shutdown. However, watch for announcements from agencies for extension of deadline dates, but these may not be issued until after the shutdown.  
  • A shutdown will result in delayed reviews, receipt of new awards, increments, and modifications from the affected Federal agencies. 

OSPR and other offices at ¾«Ñ¡Âé¶¹¶þÇø will keep monitoring the situation. We will provide updates and guidance as they become available during the legislative process. Currently, OSPR recommends we continue with grant activities as usual.  

Please contact OSPR if:

  • You receive any notices from federal agencies on your grants 
  • You were travelling to a federal government event (review, workshop, etc) that has been cancelled, and you are stuck with the reservations

Virtual Office Hours 

We will be holding regular virtual office hours for faculty and staff who are active in seeking external funding.

Recurring meeting, Wednesdays from 10-11 am. 

Meeting ID: 948 0525 4005
Passcode: 27415580

On this page: 

Current Awards

To ensure your research projects remain on track, it is important to stay proactive during this period of uncertainty.  

The current terms of your projects remain valid unless changed. Many of the notifications in the news are being challenged in court. We will continue to invoice and receive reimbursements, unless notified otherwise.

If you have questions or concerns, contact your OSPR post-award contact.  

What to do:

  • Ensure any travel booking is refundable. 
  • Prioritize sumbitting any overdue technical reports or deliverables. 
  • Watch for policy updates from the federal agency overseeing your specific grant for any changes to funding or compliance requirements. 
  • Keep detailed documentation of all communications with sponsors and agencies to ensure transparency and compliance. 

Proposal Preparation and Submission

OSPR will continue to submit proposals as long as federal submission systems remain operational. However, sponsors may experience delays in proposal review timelines, as federal agencies navigate pauses in funding for certain areas.  

We encourage you not to curtail your funding endeavors. Please continue with your research, devise a plan and submit proposals. We suggest you stay the course and consult OSPR early if you have questions or concerns.

OSPR can also assist in identifying alternate funding opportunities. We are here to provide support and guidance in making your proposals competitive in this changing environment.   

What to do: 

When considering and preparing your proposals, we recommend:  

  • Contacting OSPR as soon as possible when you identify a solicitation you intend to submit to. 
  • Double-checking deadlines to confirm they have not been updated.  
  • Verifying that funding announcements remain unchanged and have not been revised or postponed.  
  • Signing up for alerts from federal agencies or sponsors to stay informed about any modifications.  

Stop-Work Orders, Terminations and Suspensions 

If you receive a stop-work order, send it our way and immediately halt all project activities as specified in the notice.

If the stop-work order is valid and not affected by the various ongoing litigation, only costs incurred up to the date of the stop-work order are typically reimbursable.  

General guidance by an agency may not constitute a stop-work order. Consult with us for clarification if you receive any stop-work directives from your funder(s). 

What to do: 

  • Notify your assigned OSPR post-award contact of the stop-work order and send them the order to ensure compliance and proper documentation. 
  • Review the terms of the stop-work order or termination notice carefully. 
  • Submit any required final reports or deliverables promptly. 
  • Avoid incurring any additional expenses unless explicitly authorized by the sponsor and OSPR.