Government Shutdown – What to Know

The federal government officially shut down after midnight on September 30, 2025. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.

In the meantime, we encourage BU research teams with federal funding to review the potential impacts of the shutdown, as described below.

Shutdown Impacts and Considerations

• Adhere to posted guidelines for grant submissions or nominations: Faculty should follow posted guidelines and deadlines for grant applications. In the past, some agencies have extended proposal deadlines after the government reopens. You should continue to submit proposals as long as federal systems remain operational.
•  Prepare for award announcements to be delayed: Faculty waiting on award announcements for already submitted proposals should know that a government shutdown may lead to delays in award announcements. Past government shutdowns have led to delays of several weeks to months due to the backlog of work at federal agencies and the difficulty of rescheduling review panels once the government reopens. Similarly, expected new grant programs will be delayed as the federal government is not allowed to establish new grant programs during a government shutdown.
• Stay up-to-date: COGR has created a website of resources consolidating information. Please refer to this site for updates and check-in regularly.

Please contact your Pre-Award Officer in Sponsored Programs with any questions, or you can communicate with us at ospera@bu.edu.

The University will continue to monitor the federal landscape and report on new developments.