Campus leaders offer guidance on partial government shutdown

Campus leaders issued guidance to UO researchers and others conducting sponsored activities funded by agencies affected by the partial federal government shutdown.

The shutdown affects the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Endowment for the Humanities and other federal funding agencies.

It does not include the National Institutes of Health or Department of Education because Congress has passed and the president has signed into law the 2019 budgets for these agencies, said Cass Moseley, UO’s senior associate vice president for research and innovation.

“UO researchers can expect to continue their federally sponsored projects, and most awarded projects will be unaffected unless the work requires the use of a federal facility or guidance from agency staff,” Moseley said in a memo sent to researchers. “Faculty and students funded on federal grants should plan on working as usual.”

The shutdown began at midnight Dec. 22 after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to agree on a continuing resolution or an appropriations bill.

During a shutdown, Moseley said, the federal government is unlikely to execute new awards, amendments or extensions. She pointed to an FAQ and agency contingency plans posted by the Office of Management and Budget. The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities also has more details on their website about the shutdown.

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation will continue to monitor the situation along with government and community relations staff and will keep the campus community updated.

Stay tuned to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation website for updates.

For questions, email Moseley at cmoseley@uoregon.edu.