Memo: Federal Agencies’ Temporary Pause: Monitoring Changes for BU Research
| TO: | Boston University Faculty |
| FROM: | Thomas Bifano, Vice President and Associate Provost ad interim for Research |
| DATE: | January 24, 2025 |
| SUBJECT: | Federal Agencies’ Temporary Pause: Monitoring Changes for BU Research |
This week, several federal agencies, including the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), received executive orders from the new administration. In response, HHS issued a temporary directive asking heads of its divisions to pause the release of new documents, guidance, and public communications until February 1, as the new administration gets a handle on the enterprise, reviewing ongoing activities, programs, and regulations. This type of pause and review has occurred, to varying degrees, with every new administration. A similar pause occurred in 2017 and did not have any significant long-term effects on agency operations.
2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources
The University is closely monitoring the situation in Washington and will share updates, including agency notices received, at the link below.
We recognize that HHS, which includes the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration, is a key source of support for BU research, so it will be important for us to track and review any changes that occur after the pause is lifted. Our Federal Relations team is working closely with University leadership to monitor developments and review any implications for our research programs.
We remain committed to keeping you informed and will continue to post announcements and guidance on the Office of Research website as we have updates to share. If you have specific questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. As always, we are here to support you through this transition.