Published September 26, 2025, via Research News
We continue to monitor the active bills in congress and recognize that the Federal government may shutdown beginning on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The following information is general guidance as to what WashU researchers and their support teams should expect during a potential shutdown if they are funded by Federal funding from agencies:
Researchers with active grants or contracts may continue to work during the shutdown unless the Principal Investigator (PI) or WashU receives a Stop Work Order for that grant or contract. Please forward any Stop Work Orders received to Devin Bennett, and Lindsay Danner in Sponsored Projects Accounting. If the project includes any outgoing subawards, please include Connie Motoki.
All researchers should follow posted guidelines for grant submissions with the possibility they may need to resubmit once the government reopens. Delays for proposal reviews, new awards, and approvals are expected.
Per the FY 2025 HHS Contingency Staffing Plan for Operations in the Absence of Enacted Annual Appropriations, Grants.gov will be available during the shutdown.
In addition, it is expected that HHS will maintain the Grants.gov system in an operational status, but with reduced federal support staff presence. The Grants.gov Contact Center will remain available and provide assistance to callers. HHS will provide the federal grantor community with guidance and updates in the event of a government shutdown.
Federal agencies may not have agency personnel available to assist with prior approvals, support or administrative actions. Changes to grant activities requiring prior approval may need to be delayed as a result.
- Proposal preparation systems may still be online during a shutdown. However, proposals may not be processed by agencies until normal operations resume. Also watch for announcements from agencies for extensions of deadline dates.
- Affected agencies may suspend the issuance of new awards.
- Submit NCE request prior to the shutdown as any NCE that require agency approval will not be processed until normal operations resume.
Expect agencies to update and issue shutdown guidelines / contingency plans.
As the White House has not yet issued official guidance, there is increased uncertainty regarding the broader impacts of a shutdown. Further information will be provided as it becomes available.
Please direct specific questions to Krystina Gross, Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance and Sponsored Projects.