2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources

As of now, the vast majority of research should continue as planned.

The University will continue to monitor the latest development and share information relevant to researchers below. Sponsored Programs (ospera@bu.edu) remains the best point of contact for award-specific questions.

New Resource

• Early Grant Termination Guidelines (Updated 3.27.25; Kerberos log-in required)

Changes to F&A Rates

Department of Defense (DOD)

On June 12, the DOD issued a new 15% F&A cap for institutions of higher education. The American Association of Universities (AAU), along with the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), the American Council on Education (ACE), and 11 AAU members have filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to stop the policy. The University has submitted a legal declaration in support of the lawsuit. On June 17, the MA District Court issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the DOD from implementing the rate cut. More details on this policy change and guidance from Sponsored Programs can be found here.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

On May 5, the AAU, along with the APLU, ACE, and 13 AAU members filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to challenge the NSF’s new 15% F&A policy. The University has submitted a legal declaration in support of the lawsuit. On June 20, the MA District Court granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, ruling in their favor on all claims on its merits and finding the NSF 15% F&A cap policy to be unlawful. As a result, the rate cut is currently on hold. More details on this policy change and guidance from Sponsored Programs can be found here.

Department of Energy (DOE)  

On April 14, the AAU, ACE, APLU, and nine universities filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts seeking to block the DOE rate cut. The University submitted a strongly worded written statement in federal court supporting the lawsuit. On May 15, the MA District Court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction preventing the DOE from unilaterally implementing the F&A rate cuts. The injunction will remain in place until a final decision is issued in the case, or until a higher court overturns the preliminary injunction on an appeal by the government. Find additional guidance for faculty and staff here.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

On Monday, February 10, three separate lawsuits were filed in the US District Court in Boston challenging the NIH’s February 7 notice. On April 4, the court granted a nationwide permanent injunction preventing NIH’s implementation of the 15 percent F&A cost rate across the United States, and shortly thereafter, the Trump Administration filed an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. As a result, the rate cut is currently on hold.

Information & Resources

• Summary of Executive Orders via the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR)
• Pending Lawsuits Related to the Freeze on Payments for Grants & Contracts (COGR)
• Agency Responses to Recent Executive Orders (Lewis-Burke Associates; Kerberos log-in required)
• National Institutes of Health Implementation of New Initiatives and Policies (Updated 4.7.25)
• National Endowment for the Humanities (Updated 3.20.25)
• Notice of Temporary Restraining Order (2.3.25)
• Notice of Enforcement of Temporary Restraining Order (2.10.25)
• Federal Outlook Webinar (2.12.25; Kerberos log-in required)
• Memorandum and Order on Motion for Preliminary Injunction (03.05.25)

NSF

• Updates on NSF Priorities (Updated 6.30.25)
• NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders (Updated 5.15.25)
• NSF Halts Grant Awards While Staff Do Second Review (Science 4.17.25)

Internal Memos

• DOD F&A Update and Guidance (6.17.25)
• NIH Notice of Rescission of Civil Rights Terms and Condition of Award (6.12.25)
• NIH Automatic NCE Link Removed in eRA Commons (5.8.25)
• NIH Policy Update on Foreign Subawards (5.7.25)
• NSF F&A Update and Guidance (5.6.25)
• Enhancing Participant Privacy and Confidentiality (5.6.25)
• In Support of Research (2.11.25)
• Effects of Federal Budget Directives on University Funding (1.28.25)
• Federal Agencies’ Temporary Pause: Monitoring Changes for BU Research (1.24.25)
• University Resources to Navigate the Federal Research Funding Landscape (1.15.25)

Frequently Asked Questions

Notices from Federal Agencies

If you have questions about how these apply to your specific award, reach out to Sponsored Programs at ospera@bu.edu.

• NSF Message on Preliminary Injunction Order – Washington v. Trump (3.06.25)
• NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Research Programs Update (3.5.25)
• NIH Supplemental Guidance on Indirect Cost Rates (2.7.25)
• NASA Global Contractor and Grantee Community Memorandum on Gender Ideology (2.6.25)
• Notice to Cease “Gender Ideology” Activities on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Awards (1.31.25)
• Memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget, rescinding funding freeze (1.29.25)
• 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 DOE, 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)
• Press Release from Department of Education, on DEI initiatives (1.23.25)
• Memorandum for NASA Contractor and Grantee Community (1.23.25)
• Memorandum from Department of Health & Human Services (1.21.25)
• Memorandum from DOE (1.20.25)

For information on Boston University policies related to recent federal actions, please visit our Federal Actions page.