Guidance on Pending Federal Government Shutdown
The Division of Research is closely monitoring the potential impacts of the federal government鈥檚 shutdown on research and sponsored program activities. Timely information will be distributed through email and via the Inside Research newsletter.
Agencies may handle the shutdown and determine essential personnel differently. The White House Office of Management and Budget website currently has no posted guidance on how each agency will operate in a shutdown. We will continue to monitor the information posted and update the research community accordingly.
Existing awards should be minimally impacted by a shutdown. New awards, no cost extensions, funding adjustments and other actions requiring agency approval or intervention will cease during a shutdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Researchers should continue to work on their grants and contracts unless otherwise instructed by their agency or program officer. Faculty should keep in close touch with their Post-Award administrator and continue to check this page for updates. If you work with collaborators at national laboratories, contact them to ensure you receive any materials or information from them in advance of a potential shutdown.
Any 鈥渟top-work orders鈥� received on federal grants and contracts should be forwarded to doraward@central.uh.edu.
Researchers should proceed as if there will be no change in submission deadlines and have proposals ready so their Pre-Award support staff can process them according to the agency guidelines during the shutdown or once the shutdown is over. It is possible that some government systems may not be accessible during the shutdown, and the Help Desk will not be operations to assist with errors.
Disbursement of funds will be suspended for any agency affected by the federal government shutdown. Federal agencies may not be able to process payments; however, you will still be able to incur costs on active research awards up to the authorized and budgeted amount unless there is a stop work order issued for your project.
Researchers can continue to expend funds on budgeted cost centers up to the authorized amount. During a federal government shutdown, agencies will not issue new awards, process modifications or funding increments to existing awards, or approve no-cost extensions.
Updated on 9/26/2025