=
UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON Menu
UW-Madison Crest

Research and Sponsored Programs

Related Links

Current Federal Stop Work Orders

Federal Shutdown FAQ

Office of Federal Relations: Federal Updates

COGR Considerations for a Federal Government Shutdown

Federal Government Shutdown

Page Updated: November 3, 2025

The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (RSP) is closely monitoring the budget situation in Washington, D.C. We are working diligently to determine the most appropriate response to the shutdown. We will continue to provide updated guidance to this page as clearly and timely as possible. Please check this page often to stay up to date.

Due to a lapse in appropriations, the Federal government has shut down non-essential operations as of October 1st, 2025 at 12:01 am.

In general, there may be impacts to application submission, award processing, no-cost extensions, and other tasks that require federal sponsor interaction. Our commitment to help campus navigate sponsored programs administration is unchanged.

Should you receive any shutdown-related correspondence from the sponsor(e.g., stop work order), please immediately provide the information to your supervisor or Principal Investigator and to Research and Sponsored Programs.

Based on current existing federal agency contingency plans, we anticipate the following. The guidance below will be updated as we learn more.

  • Active Awards: In most cases, existing federally-funded projects may continue until they run out of already obligated funding. It is possible that agencies may issue Stop Work Orders for contracts or other transaction agreements. If a Stop Work Order is issued, work must cease and no expenses can be incurred. Please immediately forward such correspondence to rspinfo@rsp.wisc.edu and to your supervisor or principal investigator.
  • Proposal Submissions: Proposal systems are likely to be online during a shutdown. While proposals may be accepted in the systems, agency staff will not be available to process them. Proposals submitted during a shutdown will not be processed until normal agency operations resume. After normal operations resume, agencies may issue extensions of deadline dates. It is not clear if Help Desk functions for agency systems will be available during a shutdown. Peer reviews are not expected to occur. This may impact faculty who are reviewers or may result in delays for those whose proposals are awaiting review.
  • Pending New Awards & Other Actions: No new grants, continuing increments of funding, cooperative agreements, contracts, other agreements, or supplements will be awarded during a shutdown. Any pending actions requiring prior approval (no-cost extensions, revised budgets, etc.) will not be acted upon during a shutdown, as federal agency personnel will not be available to process them.
  • Reimbursements:While reimbursement from federal sponsors may be delayed, many payment management systems remain open and active. RSP will continue submitting invoices/draws during the shutdown as we can.
  • Outgoing Subawards:Work may proceed unless a stop work order, termination, or other directive is issued by the sponsor.
  • Incoming Subawards:UW-Madison should follow all guidance and directives from the Pass-Through Entity, which receives Notices of Award (NOAs) from the prime sponsor.
  • Technical and Financial Reports: If an agency's electronic reporting system is available (which is expected to be the case), then all reports must be submitted by their original deadline. If a report is submitted by email, it should be filed on time. In either case, report review and/or acceptance by the agency will not occur until normal operations resume.

Government Shutdown Guidance

If you have access to an agency contingency plan or other information that is not listed below, please send it to rspinfo@rsp.wisc.edu.

Army Corps of Engineers
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy (DOE)
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS/NIH)
Department of the Interior
Department of Justice (DOJ)
Department of Labor
Economic Development Administration
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
National Archives and Records Administration
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Small Business
State
Social Security
Transportation
Treasury
Veterans Affairs

Government shutdown update

Here is the latest information as we enter the third week of the shutdown:

Funding for VA personnel salary is being managed at the national level. VA personnel at all facilities nationwide will continue to be paid as normal until prior year funds are depleted at the national level. Once those funds are depleted, all VA research personnel will be either (1) furloughed and unable to work or (2) deemed “excepted” and able to work without pay.

  • If it comes to that point, ORD will provide clear guidance about the types of research activities that fall under the "excepted" category (mission-critical activities that relate to patient safety and animal welfare).
  • After the shutdown ends, both furloughed and excepted VA employees will be paid their salary retroactively. Retroactive pay is only for VA-paid employees, not for those on IPAs.
  • If a furlough occurs, VA research that does not meet the "life and safety" exception will stop. VA research is defined as research conducted by VA personnel (including those serving on compensated, WOC, or IPA appointments) while on VA time or on VA property. It includes all research that has been approved by the VA R&D Committee. This means that VA research conducted by WOC personnel will also need to stop.

It is anticipated that there are sufficient funds to pay VA research personnel through at least 11/30/2025 (updated from previous date of 10/31).

Research personnel paid via IPAs are also anticipated to be paid through 11/30/2025 (updated from previous date of 10/31).

Purchase card orders are not currently being accepted, unless there is a risk to safety or life (such as animal studies) or another emergency. If you have a purchase that meets these exceptions, please contact Aaron, John, and Jacque.

All information is in flux and subject to change as new details become available. We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

Veterans Affairs Contingency Plan

VA Research Need to Know Notice

State-level Entities

University of Colorado-Boulder
Wisconsin Department of Health Services