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Office of the Provost

Government Shutdown Guidance

 

Updated as of: October 1, 2025

The Assistant Vice Provost and the Director, Office of Grants and Contracts, have developed these FAQs to provide up-to-date information and guidance on what a U.S. government shutdown would mean for your research activity.

How would a shutdown impact the agencies I work with?
Each agency may handle the shutdown and determine essential personnel differently. It is important that PIs/Co-PIs continue to work until they receive specific information or instructions from their program officers.

Would a shutdown delay deadlines for a grant proposal?
Maybe.  It is important that PIs/Co-PIs continue to prepare and work with their DRA and College on proposals and proceed as if there will be no change in grant submission deadlines.  It is possible that some government systems may not be working during the shutdown. The best thing investigators can do is to continue to work on proposals and have them ready so that they can be processed according to the most up-to-date guidelines given by each specific agency once the shutdown is over.

Will agencies continue to issue awards?

It is more than likely that new awards will not be issued.  Colleges should be aware of the risks associated with approving Advance Accounts without assurance that the current anticipated start date may change.

What about funds already received?

Federal grants are cost reimbursable, meaning VU receives actual funds after costs have been incurred.  Each month the Research Accounting Office requests reimbursement for expenses incurred and posted in Banner for the previous month. While payments may be stopped or delayed, projects should continue as planned unless instructions are released to stop incurring expenses.

Should researchers continue to work on their federal contracts and grants?
Yes, researchers should continue to work on their grants and contracts unless their agency or program officer advises them otherwise.  PIs/Co-PIs should keep in close touch with their SRAs and continue to monitor this page. 

What if I receive an email from my Program Officer about the shutdown?

Please forward the email to your OG&C DRA and SRA.

What have you heard from specific agencies so far?

OG&C will update this page as it receives information from federal agencies. 

See sponsor below for more details.

 

Email received 10/1/2025

Dear Managing Organization Cognizant Points of Contact and Colleagues,

This email provides notification that the appropriations under which the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has been operating expired on September 30, 2025. Consequently, NSF will shut down its operations with limited exemptions for specifically excepted activities.

Please review the Assistance and Contract-Related Policy and Systems Issues During a Lapse in Appropriations page at for more information.

Email received 10/1/2025

Dear Authorized Representatives and Project Directors for grants from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC):

I am writing to let you know that, due to the federal government shutdown, operations at the National Archives and Records Administration have been interrupted and the NHPRC staff is being furloughed.

I want to assure you that all NHPRC grant awards are fully funded; however, we will be unable to process recently submitted payment requests or any new payment requests until the National Archives receives an appropriation and we are fully operational once again. In addition, we will not be able to review narrative or financial reports or respond to other grant related questions.

Please also note that while you will still be able to access eGMS Reach, staff will remain out of the office until authorized to return and will respond to any messages, report submissions, or inquiries, at that time.

The National Archives will also post shutdown language on NARA web sites, social media, and on our facilities. 

Where can I get more information?

Continue to monitor federal sponsors’ websites.  Additionally, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget’s guidance page on .