Understanding the Impacts of Executive Orders on Federally Funded Researchers: BU Shares Information and Resources
The information on this site will be updated regularly, as new information becomes available. Please also consult https://www.bu.edu/research/2025/01/27/2025-administration-transition-information-resources/ and subscribe to BU’s Beltway Buzz.
NEW (2/12). See here for slides from the 2/12 webinar led by Lewis-Burke and BU Federal Relations.
NEW (2/11/25). From OSP: Any concerns by PIs about non-renewal of federal grant funding, stop work orders, or notices of funding “pauses” should be immediately directed to your Dean’s office and Diane Baldwin at dbaldwin@bu.edu and Renna Lilly at rolilly@bu.edu in Sponsored Programs for consultation with Research and OGC on next steps. PIs should not take personnel actions in response to anticipated federal funding disruptions before consulting with Sponsored Programs. Investigators who receive verbal stop-work orders should request a written notice on official letterhead.
NEW (2/11/25). From Federal Relations: A number of funded proposals to BU faculty were included in a database of over 3,000 National Science Foundation grants compiled by Sen. Cruz’s (R-TX) office as he criticizes the agency for funding diversity efforts. See this press release for reference. Investigators who have been flagged do not need act at this time, although they have been informed in case they receive inquiries from their NSF program officer or others. They can reach out to Jessica Wong <wongjk@bu.edu> in Federal Relations with further inquiries.
NEW (2/10/25): Please attend a webinar on Wednesday February 12 at 10 am with federal policy experts to learn about the research priorities of the new White House administration and strategies for positioning your research in this new environment. The session will feature Jennifer Grodsky, vice president for federal relations, and representatives from Washington, DC, federal lobbying and consulting firm Lewis-Burke Associates. Register here.
***
On Monday January 27, 2025, the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo imposing a temporary pause on all activities related to the obligation or disbursement of federal financial assistance. No new federal grants will be awarded and no new funding will be disbursed until the pause is lifted. Late on Tuesday January 28, 2025, a federal judge blocked the OMB’s funding freeze until Monday, February 3. BU is working vigilantly to prepare for the freeze’s impact on our campus should the injunction be lifted.
In the event the OMB’s orders are allowed to proceed, agencies will have until Monday, February 10 to submit plans to OMB demonstrating compliance with recent executive orders, which you can find linked from the Office of Research website. In addition to the pause, the memo mandates that agencies designate a senior political appointee responsible for ensuring that federal financial assistance aligns with administration priorities. Agencies would also be required, to the extent permissible by law, to cancel any previously awarded grants that conflict with these priorities.After that, there’s potential for rescissions. We will not know on February 10 which awards might be terminated.
The memo covers a broad range of areas, and schools and organizations nationwide are assessing its potential impact. The Department of Education has stated that federal Pell Grants and direct loans under Title IV would not be affected. At the same time, BU recognizes that this pause would be disruptive to our research programs and represent a departure from previous norms.
The University remains committed to supporting everyone in our community during this transition, including faculty with federal grants. Should the pause be reinstated, no preemptive action would be taken on individual awards prior to February 10. Unless the sponsor has issued a stop-work order, researchers should continue conducting research on federal grants through the pause. BU administration also understands that many researchers have concerns about specific grants and programs. Please send your questions to Sponsored Programs at ospera@bu.edu, and our Sponsored Programs team will compile them, provide responses, and develop FAQs around common issues. An initial set of FAQs is listed below.
Additional guidance is being released rapidly. The University will continue to monitor the evolving situation and provide general updates on the Office of Research website. Please also check the Federal Relations website and sign up for their newsletter for the latest information.
Information & Resources
- Summary of Executive Orders (Council on Governmental Relations)
- Other Related Resources (Council on Governmental Relations)
Notices from Agencies
- Message from the National Science Foundation (1.28.25)
- Message from the American Institutes for Research (1.28.25)
- Q&A from the Office of Management and Budget, on paused grants (1.28.25)
- Memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget, on paused grants (1.27.25)
- Memorandum from the Department of Energy, on DEI and CBP activities (1.27.25)
- Cancellation of Funding Notices at National Institute of Justice (1.27.25)
- Notice from Department of Energy on PIER plan requirement (1.27.25)
- Memorandum for NASA Contractor and Grantee Community (1.23.25)
- Memorandum from Department of Health & Human Services (1.21.25)
- Memorandum from Department of Energy (1.20.25)
Internal Memos
- Federal Agencies’ Temporary Pause: Monitoring Changes for BU Research (1.24.25)
- University Resources to Navigate the Federal Research Funding Landscape (1.15.24)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a freeze on all federal financial assistance?
According to the Office of Management and Budget, “No, the pause does not apply across-the-board. It is expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities implicated by the President’s executive orders, such as ending DEI, the green new deal, and funding nongovernmental organizations that undermine the national interest.”
What is the status of the pause on federal awards?
On Tuesday, January 28, a federal district judge prohibited the White House from implementing the pause on federal funding while the courts consider the administration’s actions. The judge’s order expires on Monday, February 3 at 5 pm.
How will I know if my grant is affected?
Should the pause be reinstated, no preemptive action would be taken on individual awards until it is lifted on February 10. Unless the sponsor has issued a stop-work order, BU research teams should continue conducting research on federal grants through the pause. Sponsored Programs is actively communicating stop-work orders from sponsors with affected BU investigators.
I have a specific question about my grant or program. Where do I go for information?
We understand that many researchers have award-specific concerns. Please send your questions to Sponsored Programs at ospera@bu.edu, and our team will compile them, provide responses, and add to these FAQs around common issues.