Published January 23, 2025, via Research News
My office is aware that early instructions issued to federal agencies by the new Administration directing an immediate pause on issuing documents and public communications have created concern and uncertainty among staff and faculty about the impact of the instructions on research activities at WashU.
It has been standard practice for new presidential administrations to temporarily pause certain agency operations upon taking office to complete administrative reviews of the agency. It is also not uncommon for the details of these pauses to vary from one incoming administration to the next. The instructions by the new Administration have paused activity across HHS agencies thereby impacting federal advisory committee activities, NIH study sections, federal rulemaking, and the issuance of new solicitations or awards resulting from existing calls, among others. These instructions may be implemented unevenly at first, and it is uncertain how long these administrative reviews will take. The directive for NIH states that the pause is in effect through February 1, 2025. Other agency directives may not have specific end dates.
While these disruptions are frustrating, they are occurring government-wide and are not focusing on university research activities or targeting specific scientific disciplines. That said, we are aware that large agencies with significant extramural programs – like NIH – may see a greater level of disruption. Please pay extra attention to any communication you receive from your federal program managers or agencies. For the time being, the Office of Sponsored Research Services and Sponsored Projects Accounting will practice “business as usual” with sponsoring agencies unless otherwise directed by programmatic personnel. Similarly, WashU researchers and research administrators should continue processing applications for the upcoming NIH submission cycle. Investigators submitting awards this cycle should follow the instructions for those awards.
WashU is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with peer stakeholders. In the meantime, please reach out to my office if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mark E. Lowe, MD, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research
Associate Dean for Research, School of Medicine
Harvey R. Colten Professor of Pediatric Science