Updates on Federal Research Agency Policy Changes

To the University of Illinois System community:

Across the University of Illinois System, our promise to offer an excellent education includes providing an environment rich with opportunities for global engagement, cross-cultural understanding, and a diverse community from which to learn. Our international students, faculty, and staff are integral to this environment and bring unique perspectives, talents, and experiences that enrich campus life.

While the details are still unfolding, recent federal actions including the revocation of some students’ visas are unsettling. This understandably creates anxiety, frustration, and fear for many across our universities.

The leadership of the University of Illinois System is dismayed by these developments, and we are actively working with our campus leaders, our internal legal counsel, outside legal experts, state and federal partners, and higher education associations to understand the full scope of their impact and to support those affected. Be assured that part of that support is an ongoing commitment and adherence to privacy laws.

We will continue to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for all of our students. Each of our universities has a set of support resources they have shared with their students, faculty, and staff. Please don’t hesitate to access them — we are here for you.

The University of Illinois System will continue to be a beacon of excellence, openness, and opportunity, welcoming the world to our doors.

Tim Killeen

President

University of Illinois System

Dear UIC Community,

As the landscape shifts daily, we recognize the uncertainty it causes for our campus community. We are working hard to navigate these challenges thoughtfully and with care. We write today to share some key updates on immigration status, research funding, and institutional finances.

IMMIGRATION

What to Know
Over the past few days, we became aware that federal authorities have altered the immigration status of several UIC international students and scholars. These individuals are in the U.S. on “nonimmigrant visas” under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security.

UIC’s Office of International Services (OIS) discovered these changes through regular monitoring of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, as the federal government does not directly notify universities when a student or scholar visa is revoked. These changes can occur for many reasons, and universities have no legal authority to reverse them.

How UIC Is Responding
• Student Support: OIS has contacted each affected student to offer direct support and resources.
• Academic Continuity: Deans are working with affected students to ensure they can complete the spring semester without losing credits.
• Legal Advocacy: UIC continues to collaborate with national legal and civil society organizations to protect the rights of our international students and scholars.

Questions or Need Help?
Contact OIS at 312-996-3121 or ois@uic.edu. The Office of the Dean of Students offers additional support and referrals. Additional updates, FAQs and resources are available on the OIS website and the Key Issues webpage.

RESEARCH FUNDING

What to Know
Recent personnel and policy changes at federal funding agencies have created challenges for UIC researchers and the teams that support them.
• To date, UIC has received 29 grant termination notices, totaling approximately $12 million.
• We are working with university counsel to explore legal and administrative responses to these terminations.
• Deans are supporting affected investigators as they evaluate potential next steps.

Legal Context and National Response
Cuts to federally funded research – both actual and proposed – have led to significant legal challenges.
• On April 4, a federal judge in Massachusetts permanently blocked the Trump administration from limiting previously negotiated NIH indirect costs.
• Multiple states have filed lawsuits challenging the legality of recent grant terminations, particularly those related to medical research.
• Illinois is currently protected under a temporary restraining order issued April 5, which prevents the federal government from withholding COVID-19-related funding.

While ongoing appeals may alter the legal landscape, these developments represent a strong and growing defense of research, health care, and higher education.

Continued Momentum at UIC
Despite these challenges, our research enterprise remains strong. So far in FY2025:
• $380M in new awards received
• $343M in sponsored expenditures
• 2,238 new proposals submitted — outpacing recent years

Questions or Need Help?
Contact the Office of Sponsored Programs (NotifyOSP@uic.edu) or visit the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research webpage on federal updates and UIC Key Issues for latest updates, FAQs and resources.

FINANCES

What to Know
UIC is engaging in five-year financial planning and annual budget-reduction exercises to ensure all units resolve any budget deficits over the next three years, to prepare for potential economic disruptions, and to prioritize resources.

Planning for Potential Federal Funding Cuts
• We have asked units to model 3%, 5%, and 10% budget reductions as a contingency planning exercise.
• While we recognize the uncertainty this moment brings, we are only 81 days into the new presidential administration and still assessing the full scope of policy changes.
• Just as we adapted rapidly in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, we must again prepare for multiple scenarios to maintain strong operations — all guided by our mission and values.

Questions or Need Help?
Contact Matt Fajack or Michael Moss in the Office of Budget and Financial Analysis.
We understand how unsettling this moment is for our campus community. Our Implementation Group, co-chaired by Steve Schwinn and Michael Ginsburg, continues to track, provide guidance, and plan proactively in response to the ever-evolving federal landscape. We are grateful for this team.

Sometimes the reason things seem hard is because they actually are hard. We ask our entire UIC community to be kind to one another and generous with yourselves. We will be more successful in addressing our challenges if we face them together. Our shared mission remains our greatest strength.

Sincerely,

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD
Chancellor

Karen Colley, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Robert Barish, MD, MBA
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Dear researchers,

It continues to be another eventful week for federal sponsors and the research community. Please regularly check the federal research policy updates page on the OVCR website for new guidance from sponsors and other relevant information on topics such as Facilities & Administration costs.

With some agencies, activities that were interrupted in recent weeks have resumed. At NIH, functions such as no cost extensions and research education opportunities are returning. Peer reviews and study sections are once again taking place while meetings missed in January are being rescheduled. We received some award notices from NIH and NSF this week, and our Office of Sponsored Programs has submitted 166 new or supplemental proposals since February 1st.

Even as certain routine activities resume, other things may change. We remind you to forward any notices you receive directly from sponsors and Program Officers to OSP as quickly as possible. Our staff will work with each faculty member individually to address any required changes.

As always, thank you to all our faculty, staff and trainees for your perseverance. I am tremendously grateful to our unit research administrators, and OSP leaders and staff for everything they do to support your research.

Joanna Groden, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research

Dear UIC community,

We are living through deeply uncertain times, where the landscape seems to shift daily, if not hourly. In the latest development, the National Institutes of Health announced plans to cap indirect costs funding at 15% for all existing and new grants. While we anticipate legal challenges, this change would have significant impacts for our entire campus community. Some key points to be aware of:

• A 15% cap would cut roughly $47 million in NIH Facilities and Administration funding to UIC based on our current NIH grant portfolio.
• Indirect costs are real costs that support campus infrastructure, including lab operations, security, information technology, research equipment, and core facilities, among other things. The proposed cuts would have significant impacts across the entire campus.
• We encourage investigators to consult the Office of the Vice Chancellor webpage for additional guidance on spending, unobligated balances and no-cost extensions. If you receive any communication from your sponsors, please share them with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research by emailing NotifyOSP@uic.edu.

Among many other things, UIC biomedical research has produced promising new therapeutics, including a novel antibiotic to fight drug-resistant bacteria and a redesigned drug for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common blood cancer in children. It has helped us develop a new screening method to help physicians detect ovarian tumors early and a new vaccine for lymphatic filariasis, a disease affecting over 100 million people worldwide.

Please be assured that university leadership is actively working with our national network to gain clarity and, in some cases, join legal actions as led by the UI System Office of the General Counsel. Make no mistake, we are facing hard challenges — but hard challenges are easier to take on when we navigate them together.  As always, our shared mission is our greatest strength.

With regards,

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD
Chancellor

Karen Colley, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Robert Barish, MD, MBA
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Dear Research Community,

On Friday evening, the NIH issued a notice adjusting the Facilities and Administration (F&A) rate for all ongoing and new NIH research awards to 15 percent, effective on February 10th, 2025. We are monitoring this evolving situation closely and expect that there will be legal challenges to this change.

Continue to check the OVCR federal updates page for information from our federal sponsors and other relevant communications. If you are a funded investigator, please ensure that technical reports and other related deliverables are submitted in a timely manner according to the underlying terms of your agreements. Avoid large unobligated balances on awards and monitor spending rates, as there may be increased scrutiny on large balances, a risk of unallowable costs and a lower likelihood of receiving no-cost extensions.

Lastly, continue to look after one another, especially our junior faculty, new staff and trainees. We remain committed to our mission of access and excellence in healthcare, education and research, and to the unity of the UIC community. We are so grateful to all our UIC colleagues, faculty, staff and students for their patience and resilience.

Joanna Groden, PhD

Vice Chancellor for Research

Dear campus community,

A temporary restraining order (TRO) against proposed changes in federal spending related to recent executive orders was issued on Jan. 31. This means that work on federal grants can continue, and funds can be drawn from funding agencies to pay for award costs, at least temporarily.

In the past couple of days, agencies – including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and National Science Foundation – have sent notifications to investigators and our Office of Sponsored Programs that prior instructions limiting or stopping grant activity are suspended due to the TRO. Please continue checking the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research website for updates.

As the TRO indicates, agencies can modify grants if doing so is consistent with the terms of the agreements and as long as the changes are not based on the language or intent of the executive orders at issue. If any such change is proposed, it will come directly from the issuing agency. If you receive any communications of this type, please share immediately with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research via notifyosp@uic.edu.

The rapid changes we are experiencing emphasize the importance of good communication, anticipating and managing uncertainty, and focusing on UIC’s important mission. We are especially grateful to the staff in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Information Technology and University Counsel for their attentive work on these issues.

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD
Chancellor

Karen Colley, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Robert Barish, MD, MBA
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Joanna Groden, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research

Dear University of Illinois System community,

Across the University of Illinois System, your chancellors and our deep roster of experts are diligently monitoring and evaluating proposed changes in federal funding, White House executive orders, and directives from the federal Office of Management and Budget for impact on our universities.

In the days ahead, the chancellors and I, along with other U of I System leaders, will continue meeting regularly as we learn more through near-constant updates and our federal relations team, who are our eyes and ears in Washington, D.C.

We are working closely with the Illinois congressional delegation to understand this evolving landscape and to continue advocating for public higher education. Our elected leaders here in Illinois and their staffs, including the governor’s office, are also an invaluable resource for us right now.

Next week, I will travel to Washington, D.C., for meetings with the federal relations team and members of our congressional delegation to learn more about what we should anticipate and how all of us might be affected.

We will continue to communicate with you as we gain clarity and, as we do learn more, we will make recommendations about how to proceed in ways that are both consistent with the law and our values and anchored in our responsibility to work on behalf of the people of our state. Some of this information may vary by university, so some updates will be shared by your campus leaders.

It is not yet possible to know the full extent of the implications, but know that across the U of I System, we remain committed to you: our students, staff, faculty, and our patients.

You also can be certain that our commitment has not changed to the systemwide mission of providing educational excellence, research with global impact, and opportunity and solutions for the benefit of all of our communities.

Tim Killeen

President

University of Illinois System

Dear students, faculty and staff,

Many things are being reported in the media and other outlets regarding presidential executive orders, as well as how the orders will be implemented. We write to reassure you that university leadership is monitoring the situation carefully and using our resources and contacts to gain clarification on issues that may affect our campus.

Here’s what we know at this point:

• A recent federal memo indicated that “federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders.…”
• As clarified in guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget, the temporary pause does not affect Pell Grants, federal student loans or GI Bill payments, allowing our mission of access and excellence to continue without interruption.
• As clarified in the same guidance, the temporary pause does not affect Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security benefits, VA benefits or SNAP (food stamps), which are critical to members of our community.
• This afternoon (Tuesday, Jan. 28), a federal judge issued a “brief administrative stay” (until Monday, Feb. 3, at 5 p.m.), which temporarily blocks the freeze on federal financial assistance.

A webpage has been created to share information from federal sponsors. If you receive any communication from your sponsors, please share them with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research by emailing NotifyOSP@uic.edu.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely. As additional information emerges, we will provide updates to the campus community. As always, our mission is our greatest strength. We remain focused on providing the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research and clinical excellence.

Thank you,

Marie Lynn Miranda, PhD
Chancellor

Karen Colley, PhD
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

Robert Barish, MD, MBA
Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

Joanna Groden, PhD
Vice Chancellor for Research

Dear UIC research community,

On Jan. 21, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a memo that paused all public communications from Health and Human Services divisions through Feb. 1. This guidance has led to the postponement of some study sections, advisory council meetings and other activities.

We are actively working with our academic and government partners to understand how federal research policy changes, including recent executive orders, may affect our campus. We are also monitoring potential additional policy changes that may have implications for our campus.

We encourage you to be patient with your agency program managers, scientific review officers and other federal personnel as we all sort through the recent changes. We also encourage you to talk with your research groups about the importance of remaining focused and continuing the important work that you are all doing.

Should your work experience impacts related to this evolving situation or you have questions, please contact Karen McCormack, executive director of sponsored programs. My office will continue to provide updates to our research community as details become available.

Thank you,

Joanna Groden
Vice Chancellor for Research

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review this Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).  Please note, this action only applies to the 23 Plaintiff States listed in the TRO.

If you have questions, please reach out to your Grant Officer.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Court Order Clarifying Scope of Preliminary Injunction in Washington v. Trump.

Court Orders Clarifying Scope – 03.20.2025“

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order (PI).

PFLAG v. Trump – Notice and PI 03.10.2025”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review this Notice of Court Order and the associated Preliminary Injunction Order.

If you have questions, please reach out to your Grant Officer.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“In compliance with the Temporary Restraining Order issued on January 31, 2025, in the United States District Court in the District of Rhode Island, the purpose of this communication is to rescind the following CDC communications effective immediately:

January 29, 2025: Cease DEI Activities on ALL CDC funded awards

January 31, 2025: Cease ALL Activities Promoting Gender Ideology

Please direct questions to PRISM@cdc.gov“

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing the attached notice of temporary restraining order (TRO) pursuant to a case pending in the U.S. District Court in the District of Rhode Island to all CDC contracgtors. This case challenges an alleged “pause” of certain Federal financial assistance, related to OMB Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (Jan. 27, 2025) (“OMB Memo”). The TRO prohibits certain actions by HHS and the other defendant agencies and is effective immediately and until furtherorder of the court. This Notice is being provided pursuant to the Court’s directive that notice of the order be provided “to all Defendants and agencies and their employees, contractors, and grantees by Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.”

A copy of the Court’s Order is located in the link below.

RI TRO Notice

If you have any questions, please contact contractnotification@cdc.gov.”

Communication sent to award recipients and shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Recipient:

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) award is funded in whole or in part with United States Government funds.

To implement the Executive Order entitled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government (Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government – The White House), and in accordance with Office of Personnel Management’s Initial Guidance (Memorandum to Heads and Acting Heads of Departments and Agencies: Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women), you must immediately terminate, to the maximum extent, all programs, personnel, activities, or contracts promoting or inculcating gender ideology at every level and activity, regardless of your location or the citizenship of employees or contractors, that are supported with funds from this award. Any vestige, remnant, or re-named piece of any gender ideology programs funded by the U.S. government under this award are immediately, completely, and permanently terminated.

No additional costs must be incurred that would be used to support any gender ideology programs, personnel, or activities.

Any questions should be directed to PRISM@cdc.gov”

Communication sent to award recipients and shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Recipient:

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) award is funded in whole or in part with United States Government foreign assistance funds.

To implement Executive Orders entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Action, you must immediately terminate, to the maximum extent, all programs, personnel, activities, or contracts promoting “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) at every level and activity, regardless of your location or the citizenship of employees or contractors, that are supported with funds from this award. Any vestige, remnant, or re-named piece of any DEI programs funded by the U.S. government under this award are immediately, completely, and permanently terminated.

No additional costs must be incurred that would be used to support any DEI programs, personnel, or activities.

If you are a global recipient and have previously received this notification regarding DEI activities, please follow those instructions accordingly.”

Communication posted to the Department of Education website.

“The U.S. Department of Education has taken action to eliminate harmful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, including references to them in public-facing communication channels and its associated workforce. These actions are in line with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to end illegal discrimination and wasteful spending across the federal government. They are the first step in reorienting the agency toward prioritizing meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology in our schools.

Following President Trump’s recent Executive Orders and initial guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Department removed or archived hundreds of guidance documents, reports, and training materials that include mentions of DEI from its outward facing communication channels. The Department also put employees charged with leading DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave. These review efforts will continue as the Department works to end discrimination based on race and the use of harmful race stereotypes, both within the agency and throughout America’s education system.

Notable actions the Department has taken include:

• Dissolution of the Department’s Diversity & Inclusion Council, effective immediately;
  • Background:The Diversity & Inclusion Council was established following Executive Order 13583 under then – President Obama. President Trump has rescinded the Executive Orders that guide the Council and issued a new Executive Order, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing,” that terminates groups like the Diversity & Inclusion Council. DEI documents issued and related actions taken by the Council have been withdrawn.
• Dissolution of the Employee Engagement Diversity Equity Inclusion Accessibility Council (EEDIAC) within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), effective immediately and pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing”;
• Cancellation of ongoing DEI training and service contracts which total over $2.6 million;
• Withdrawal of the Department’s Equity Action Plan;
• Placement of career Department staff tasked with implementing the previous administration’s DEI initiatives on paid administrative leave; and
• Identification for removal of over 200 web pages from the Department’s website that housed DEI resources and encouraged schools and institutions of higher education to promote or endorse harmful ideological programs.

Pursuant to OPM guidance, the Department will continue its comprehensive review of all agency programs and services to identify additional initiatives and working groups that may be advancing a divisive DEI agenda, including programs using coded or imprecise language to disguise their activity. Careful review of all public sites and media channels for DEI language and resources will also continue.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

A U.S. district judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) regarding the DOE Policy Flash: Adjusting Department of Energy Grant Policy for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) (the “Rate Cap Policy”).

“For purposes of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65(b), the Plaintiffs have made a sufficient showing that they have provided notice to Defendants and that, unless their Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (“TRO”), [ECF No. 3 (the “Motion”)], is granted, they will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties. Thus, a TRO is justified to preserve the status quo pending a hearing and the Plaintiffs’ Motion is GRANTED.”

Please review the full order granting the TRO.

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

In a new policy memorandum shared with grant recipients at colleges and universities, DOE announced that it will limit financial support of indirect costs of DOE research funding to 15%.

“…hereinafter, the Department will no longer use the negotiated indirect cost rate for grants awarded to IHEs. Instead, it is setting a standardized 15 percent indirect cost rate for all grant awards to IHEs.”

Policy memorandum

DOE Policy Flashes

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“SUBJECT: RESCISSION OF NOTICE OF SUSPENSION OF DEI, CBP/PIER PLANS AND JUSTICE 40 RELATED ACTIVITIES UNDER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDS

Dear Recipient:

DOE believes that few, if any, funding agreements issued by the Office of Science are “equity-related” under section 2(b)(i) of Executive Order 14151, 90 FR 8339, entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Program and Preferencing, nonetheless, out of an abundance of caution it is rescinding the following communication effective immediately: DEI, CBP/PIER Plans and Justice40 related activities suspension letter dated, January 31, 2025.

However, pursuant to DOE’s enforcement authority and in accordance with current administrative priorities, any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Community Benefit Plan (CBP), Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plan or Justice40 activities provided for in your funding agreement(s), for the time being, are voluntary. DOE will compensate you for all activities undertaken pursuant to the terms of your funding agreement(s).

If you have any questions, please contact the undersigned Contracting Officer by e-mail at warren.riley@science.doe.gov.

Warren Riley

Office of Grants and Cooperative Agreements

DOE Contracting Officer”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“In accordance with the Executive Order, Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, effective immediately, any work under your federal award related to the following activities must be suspended:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
• Community Benefits Plans (CBP).
• Justice40.

If you have any questions regarding this direction, please contact the designated Contract Specialist or Contracting Officer on your award.”

Document posted to Department of Energy website. Direct link to guidance, retrieved from DOE website on 2/12.

“You are hereby advised that a temporary restraining order has been entered in the case of New York et al. v. Trump, No. 25-cv-39-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), ECF No. 50 (Jan. 31, 2025). You are receiving this Notice pursuant to the Court’s directive that notice of the order be provided “to all Defendants and agencies and their employees, contractors, and grantees by Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.” A copy of the Court’s Order is attached for reference.

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“On January 20, 2025, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (E.O.) titled, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” The order includes, in part, a requirement to terminate all Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) performance requirements for employees, contractors, or grantees.

To implement the E.O., the Department of Energy (DOE) directs the immediate suspension of the following activities in your financial assistance awards:

● Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and activities involving or relating to DEI objectives and principles;

● Community Benefits Plans (CBP)*; or

● Justice40 requirements, conditions, or principles.

* In lieu of the CBP, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science required financial assistance applicants to include a Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plan in their applications for financial assistance in response to funding opportunity announcements beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2023. These PIER Plans were subsequently incorporated into resultant financial assistance awards by reference.

Therefore, effective immediately, you shall suspend all DEI, CBP/PIER Plans and Justice40 activities associated with all financial assistance awards issued by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science (SC), Consolidated Service Center – Office of Grants and Cooperative Agreements. DOE will not enforce any award requirements related to the above activities during this suspension pending the outcome of a review of the Department’s ongoing activities.

If you believe any activity listed above is required by law, or if you have any questions, please contact the undersigned Contracting Officer by e-mail at christine.nault@science.doe.gov.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“The President has issued 43 Executive Orders, Presidential Memoranda, and Proclamations, including an Executive Order entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing. DOE is moving aggressively to implement this Executive Order by directing the suspension of the following:

• diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, procedures, programs, activities, and reviews involving or relating to DEI objectives and principles until further notice;
• requiring, using, or enforcing Community Benefits Plans (CBP); and
• requiring, using, or enforcing Justice40 requirements, conditions, or principles in any loans, loan guarantees, grants, cost sharing agreements, funding opportunity announcements, contracts, contract awards, or any other source of financial assistance.

The Office of Science is immediately ending the requirement for Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plans in any proposal submitted to the Office of Science. All open solicitations have been or will be amended to remove the PIER Plan requirement and associated review criterion. For proposals that have already been submitted to the Office of Science, no action on the part of the applicant is required, but applicants will have the option to resubmit a new application with the removal of the PIER plan. Reviewers will not be asked to read or comment on PIER Plans. Selection decisions will not take into consideration the content of PIER Plans or any reviewer comments on PIER Plans. If you have questions, please email questions@science.doe.gov. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“SUBJECT: Cease all activities associated with DEI and CBP

The President has issued 43 Executive Orders, Presidential Memoranda, and Proclamations, including an Executive Order entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.  DOE is moving aggressively to implement this Executive Order by directing the suspension of the following activities in any loans, loan guarantees, grants, cost sharing agreements, contracts, contract awards, or any other source of DOE funding:

• diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and activities involving or relating to DEI objectives and principles; and
• Community Benefits Plans (CBP); and
• Justice40 requirements, conditions, or principles.

Recipients and subrecipients must cease any activities, including contracted activities, and stop incurring costs associated with DEI and CBP activities effective as of the date of this letter for all DOE grants, cooperative agreements, loans, loan guarantees, cost sharing agreements, or other DOE funding of any kind. Recipients are responsible for communicating and enforcing this direction with all subrecipients and contractors. Costs incurred after the date of this letter will not be reimbursed. This letter will be incorporated into your award with the next modification.

Additional guidance will be forthcoming. Recipients who have DEI and CBP activities in their awards will be contacted by their Grants Officer to initiate award modifications consistent with this Order.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Notice to DOJ Grantees Regarding Executive Order 14187, sec. 4, and Executive Order 14168, secs. 3(e) and 3(g) – Preliminary Injunction

Please see the attached written Notice of Court Order, including a copy of the Court’s Order, regarding a preliminary injunction addressing certain provisions of Executive Order 14187, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation (January 28, 2025) and 14168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (January 20, 2025).

Effective immediately, this preliminary injunctive order prohibits certain actions.

• Notice of Court Order (March 5, 2025) and Court Order (February 28, 2025), Washington v. Trump, 25-cv-244-LK (W.D. Wash.), Electronic Case File Docket Entry No. 233.pdf

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Attention All Awardees:

Consistent with the Executive Order (EO) entitled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Defending Women), the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is providing the following instruction and procedures and is seeking award information on or related to surveys, forms, or other data collection tools that ask about “gender” or “gender identity.”

Instruction.  If an award-funded project includes a survey, form, or data collection tool that asks about “gender” or “gender identity,” it must instead ask about “sex,” with only two available responses:  “male” and “female.”  A “choose not to disclose” response is not permitted. All questions about “gender identity” must be removed.   Therefore:

• If the project’s survey/form/data collection tool is under development or will be under development later in the project timeline:
  • Ensure that the question complies with the above Instruction.
• If the project’s survey/form/data collection tool has been developed, but has not yet been administered:
  • If it has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) but not by NIJ’s Human Subjects Privacy (HSP) team, change the question(s) to be in compliance with the above instruction before submitting the package to NIJ for HSP review.
    • This may require resubmission for review and modification approval by the IRB.
  • If it has not yet been approved by the IRB, change the question(s) to comply with the above Instruction before submitting the package for IRB and NIJ HSP review.
• If the project’s survey/form/data collection tool has been developed, approved, and administered:
  • If administration is ongoing, pause administration and change the question(s) to comply with the above Instruction.
    • This may require resubmission for review and modification approval by the IRB.
  • Submit the updated package to NIJ for HSP review and approval. Administration of the survey/form/data collection may resume only upon the award recipient’s receipt of notice of NIJ approval.

Your timely compliance is appreciated. Failure to comply with this directive may affect the award.

Informational Only. Please do not respond to this email.

Thank you,

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Please see the attached written Notice of the Court’s Order, including a copy of the Court’s Order, regarding certain Federal financial assistance programs, including grants. Effective immediately, this temporary restraining order prohibits certain actions.

A copy of this Notice will be filed on Monday, February 3, 2025, by 9:00 a.m.

As a reminder, the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) is available. DOJ award recipients are able to request a drawdown in ASAP.

RI Temporary Restraining Order Notice 01-31-2025.pdf“

Communication received by award recipients and shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“DOJ award recipients are currently able to request a drawdown in ASAP.

Please note that the routine end of month ASAP suspension for financial reconciliation will not occur for January and ASAP will remain available.  Visit the the ASAP Resources page on the JustGrants Resources website for background about the system, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and training opportunities.  For information on how to request funds in ASAP in the ordinary course, please reference this user guide.

For all questions related to the ASAP system, please contact the OCFO Customer Service Center by email at Ask.OCFO@usdoj.gov or by telephone at 800–458–0786.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“On January 27, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs. This memorandum requires Federal agencies to “identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements,” including certain recent executive orders.

Among other things, the OMB memorandum requires that while these reviews are being conducted, Federal agencies must, to the extent permissible under applicable law, pause disbursement of Federal funds under all open awards.

This temporary pause is intended to provide the Administration with time to review agency programs and determine the best uses of the funding for those programs consistent with the law and the President’s priorities. Accordingly, all DOJ-related ASAP accounts will be temporarily suspended during the pause. As expressly provided in the OMB memorandum, the temporary pause “will become effective on January 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. ET.” After this deadline, DOJ award recipients will not be able to request a drawdown in ASAP until further notice.

If a grantee attempts to draw funds down in ASAP during the account suspension period, the grantee will receive an “Error 839: No accounts found matching criteria” message and will not be able to request drawdowns.

Please visit the ASAP Resources page on the JustGrants Resources website for background about the system, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and training opportunities. For information on how to request funds in ASAP in the ordinary course, please reference this user guide.

For all questions related to the ASAP system, please contact the OCFO Customer Service Center by email atAsk.OCFO@usdoj.gov or by telephone at 800–458–0786.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“1. Purpose. To change the status of TEN No. 21-24 from active to cancelled.

2. Action Requested. Please disseminate this information to appropriate staff.

3. Summary and Background.

a. Summary – TEN No. 21-24, Change 1, changes the status of TEN No. 21-24 to cancelled.

b. Background – In compliance with the Preliminary Injunction issued on February 21, 2025, in the United District Court for the District of Maryland, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump, 25-cv-333, effective immediately the Employment and Training Administration is rescinding TEN No. 21-24, Immediate Implementation of Executive Orders “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit- Based Opportunity,” which was issued on January 22, 2025.

4. Details. The status of TEN No. 21-24 has been changed to cancelled.

5. Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

6. References. N/A

7. Attachments. N/A”

Communication sent to Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear ABA2 grantees,

Many States, Tribes, and grantees have asked staff at the USDOL Employment and Training Administration (ETA) if we have additional information on the Executive Orders and recent Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directive M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.

OMB’s memo has been rescinded.  DOL grants can continue in accordance with TEN No. 21-24.

We are also aware that the Payment Management System (PMS) used to disburse funds was unavailable to many users on January 28, including those trying to draw down funds. PMS has changed its operating hours to 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST Monday through Friday and may experience periodic interruptions. PMS should be available and grantees should be able to draw down funds.

We understand grantees may continue to have questions. Please continue sending us your questions to regional offices. We are reviewing them and using them to develop further guidance.

– The OA grants team”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Purpose: To notify all Employment and Training Administration (ETA) recipients about changes ETA is making to federal financial assistance awards to prohibit activities described in President Trump’s Executive Orders (EOs) titled, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Referencing,” issued on January 20, 2025, and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” issued on January 21, 2025.

Action Requested: Effectively immediately, all recipients of federal financial assistance awards are directed to cease all activities related to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) or “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility” (DEIA) under their federal awards, consistent with the requirements of the EOs titled, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Referencing,” issued on January 20, 2025, and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” issued on January 21, 2025. Additional guidance will be provided.

Summary and Background.

a. Summary – This notice shares recent EO requirements to eliminate DEI activities that constitute illegal discrimination or preferences.

b. Background – President Trump has issued several EOs, which are available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/, including the EOs titled, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Referencing,” issued on January 20, 2025, and “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” issued on January 21, 2025. All federal agencies are taking steps to implement those EOs, and promptly notifying all federal awardees. ETA, like all federal agencies, will provide further guidance on specific programs and activities within those programs.

Ceasing DEIA Activities. All awardees must immediately cease all award activities related to DEI or DEIA. All other award activities should continue.

ETA will issue further guidance on specific activities that are allowable and unallowable.

Inquiries. Please direct inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.

References.

Executive Order, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Referencing,” January 20, 2025, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/

Executive Order, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” January 21, 2025, available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/“

Communication received by investigators and shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Grant Recipient,

Pursuant to the Court’s directive in New York et al. v. Trump, No. 25-cv-39-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), ECF No. 50 (Jan. 31, 2025) all EPA assistance agreement recipients are receiving the attached Notice of the Court’s Order for awareness and information.  A copy of the Court’s Order is also attached for reference.  If you have any questions about the scope or effect of the Court’s Order, please contact your Grants Award Official.

Thank you.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Public Assistance Recipients and Subrecipients:

The link below includes the written Notice of a Court Order, including a copy of the Court’s order, regarding certain Federal financial assistance programs, including grants. Effective immediately, this temporary restraining order prohibits certain actions. Additional guidance is forthcoming regarding DHS’s separate authority.

RI Temporary Restraining Order Notice 01-31-2025 Click for attachment

If you require additional assistance with the FEMA Grants Manager, please contact the Grants Manager Hotline at (866) 337-8448 or FEMA-Recovery-PA-Grants@fema.dhs.gov”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review this Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).  Please note, this action only applies to the 23 Plaintiff States listed in the TRO.

If you have questions, please reach out to your Grant Officer.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear HRSA Contractors:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and Preliminary Injunction.  If you have any questions, please reach out to the HRSA Contracts Office.

Thank you.”

Communication sent to Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order.

If you have questions, contact us at DGMOCommunications@hrsa.gov.

Attachments:

PFLAG v. Trump – notice of court order – PI.pdf

116 – PI Order.pdf“

Communication shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Hospital Administrators, Colleagues, and Grant Recipients:

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order.

If you have any questions, contact us at  DGMOCommunications@hrsa.gov.

Attachments:

• 233 – PI Order and Mem. Op..pdf
• 2025.03.05 – Washington v. Trump – Notice of Court Order.pdf“

Communication sent to investigators and shared with the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Recipient:

HRSA rescinds the notice titled “Important Message for HRSA Award Recipients” that was sent to all HRSA grantees on January 31, 2025.

If you have questions, please contact us at DGMOCommunications@hrsa.gov.

Thank you.”

Communication sent to investigators and the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear HRSA Recipient,

The United States District Court of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order (Court’s Order) in the case of New York et al. v. Trump, No. 25-cv-39-JJM-PAS (D.R.I.), ECF No. 50 (Jan. 31, 2025). This case challenges an alleged “pause” of certain Federal financial assistance, related to OMB Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (Jan. 27, 2025) (“OMB Memo”). You are receiving this Notice pursuant to the Court’s directive. Please see attachments.

As the Court’s Order reflects, the above terms are temporary as litigation in the case is ongoing.

If you have any questions, please contact us at DGMOCommunications@hrsa.gov.

Thank you.

Attachements–RI-Temporary-Restraining-Order-notice.pdf“

Communication received by award recipients and forwarded to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Your Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) award is funded in whole or in part with U.S. government funds.

Effective immediately, HRSA grant funds may not be used for activities that do not align with Executive Orders (E.O.) entitled Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Action, Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, and Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Defending Women). Any vestige, remnant, or re-named piece of any programs in conflict with these E.O.s are terminated in whole or in part.

You may not incur any additional costs that support any programs, personnel, or activities in conflict with these E.O.s

If you have any questions, contact us at DGMOCommunications@hrsa.gov.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear NASA Grantee Community,

The attached notice of court order is being provided in accordance with the preliminary injunction issued by the court.

Thank you,
NSSC Grants Activities Branch”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Colleagues,

The attached notice of court order is being provided in accordance with the preliminary injunction issued by the court.

Thank you for your work and partnership with NASA.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“On January 20, 2025, the President signed an Executive Order (E.O.) titled, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government”. The OPM issued a memorandum, dated January 29, 2025, titled “Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women,” to federal agencies. This guidance directed agencies to take immediate action to end federal funding of gender ideology activities.

To implement the E.O. requirements, OPM directed federal agencies to take immediate action to identify and terminate programs that promote gender ideology(1). Federal agencies must withdraw all final or pending documents, directives, orders, regulations, materials, forms, communications, statements, and plans that promote gender ideology. To date, the following directions are provided:

Contracts and Grants. NASA Contractors and Grantees immediately shall cease and desist all activities that promote or reflect gender ideology required of their contracts or grants. For Contracts, in accordance with FAR 52.242-15, Stop Work clause, a stop work order may have been issued to stop all or any part of the related activity. Additionally, FAR 52.249, Terminations clause modifications may also be issued to implement this change. For grants this cease and desist is in accordance 2 CFR 200.340 Termination. For both grants and contracts, this work may include but is not limited to: training, reporting, special emphasis programs, or any other direct or indirect contract or grant activity that promulgates gender ideology. All Contractors and Grantees shall notify their Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their contracts or grants that are in violation of this guidance.

Guidance. Additional guidance may be issued to further implement the executive order requirements, such as updating and removing any gender ideology related policy guidance in the NASA FAR Supplement, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Procedures, and the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions.

Websites, social media, accounts, etc. NASA Office of Procurement has removed external and internal facing contract and grant websites that included any gender ideology related policies and documents, and these website were taken offline as of 5pm January 31, per OPM guidance.

We endeavor to keep our NASA contractor and grantee community informed. As additional guidance becomes available, NASA Contracting Officers or Grant Officers will be contacting your organization to discuss necessary contract or grant modifications required to comply with the Executive Orders. To ensure efficient lines of communication are available we ask companies to actively engage with their cognizant Contracting officer or Grant Officer regarding the removal of gender ideology activities as it pertains to their contract or grant requirement(2). Please contact your cognizant Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if you have any questions regarding this memorandum.

I appreciate your cooperation and continued commitment to supporting NASA’s mission.

Karla Smith Jackson

Assistant Administrator for Procurement

1 – NASA Contractors and Grantees remain responsible for adhering to generally-applicable laws, such as Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other requirements, which are independent of federal contract or grants requirements.

2 – Grant includes cooperative agreement as defined in 2 CFR 200.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear NASA Grants Community

On January 23, 2025, NASA’s Office of Procurement (OP) released a memorandum for the NASA contractor and grant community regarding Executive Order “Initial Recission of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” and the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) memorandum “Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders.”

Per OP’s memo, NASA grant and cooperative agreement recipients shall immediately cease and desist all DEIA activities required for their award. This work may include but is not limited to: DEIA plan requirements, training, workshops, reporting, considerations for staffing, or any other direct or indirect grant activity related to DEIA. All grant recipients shall notify their cognizant Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their awards that are in violation of this guidance. Your Grant Officer’s contact information can be found on your NF 1687, Notice of Award for Grant and Cooperative Agreement (NOA).

Thank you for your work and partnership with NASA.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“On January 20, 2025, the President of the United States of America signed an Executive Order (E.O.) titled, “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions”, which repeals Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce”. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memorandum, dated January 21, 2025, titled, “Initial Guidance Regarding DEIA Executive Orders” to federal agencies.

To implement the E.O. requirements, OPM directed federal agencies to take immediate action to identify and terminate DEIA initiatives and programs and remove final or pending documents, directives, orders, materials, and equity plans issued in response to the now-repealed Executive Order 14035, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) in the Federal Workforce (June 25, 2021). To date, the following directions are provided:

Contracts and Grants. NASA Contractors and Grantees immediately shall cease and desist all DEIA activities required of their contracts or grants. In accordance with FAR 52.242-15, Stop Work clause, a stop work order may have been issued to stop all or any part of the DEIA related activity. Additionally, FAR 52.249, Terminations clause modifications may also be issued to implement this change. This work may include but is not limited to: DEIA plan requirement, training, reporting, considerations for staffing, or any other direct or indirect contract or grant activity. All Contractors and Grantees shall notify their Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their contracts or grants that are in violation this guidance.

Guidance. Consistent with the DEIA E.O. and the Regulatory Freeze Pending Review E.O, additional guidance will be issued to further implement the executive order requirements, such as updating and removing DEIA related policy guidance in the NASA FAR Supplement, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual, Grant and Cooperative Agreement Procedures, and the Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions.

Websites, social media, accounts, etc. NASA Office of Procurement has removed external and internal facing contract and grant websites that include DEIA related policies and documents, and these website were taken offline as of 5pm January 22, per OPM guidance.

We endeavor to keep our NASA contractor and grantee community informed. As additional guidance becomes available, NASA Contracting Officers or Grant Officers will be contacting your organization to discuss necessary contract or grant modifications required to comply with the Executive Orders. To ensure efficient lines of communication are available we ask companies to actively engage with their cognizant Contracting officer or Grant Officer regarding the removal of DEIA activities as it pertains to their contract or grant award.1

Please contact your cognizant Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if you have any questions regarding this memorandum.”

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review this Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).  Please note, this action only applies to the 23 Plaintiff States listed in the TRO.

If you have questions, please reach out to your Grant Officer.”

Communication received by Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order.”

Communication received by Office of Sponsored Programs.

“NIH Contractor Organizations:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order. The subject Executive Orders 14168 and 14187 are also attached.

As discussed in the Notice of Court Order, this message is being provided by the National Institutes of Health to all of its contractors.

~ National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisition Management and Policy“

News release issued by National Institutes of Health on March 6th.

“Today the National Institutes of Health is announcing plans to centralize peer review of all applications for grants, cooperative agreements and research and development contracts within the agency’s Center for Scientific Review (CSR). The proposed approach is expected to save more than $65 million annually by eliminating duplicative efforts across the agency, making the review process more efficient.

“At NIH, we are working to optimize our resources to support the best science,” said Acting NIH Director Matthew J. Memoli, M.D. “By centralizing the peer review process, we will not only reduce costs—we will also improve the quality, consistency and integrity of review, and maximize competition of similar science across the agency.”

More than 80% of NIH’s funding overall supports research institutions across the country, largely through competitive grants that are administered by NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) or the NIH Office of the Director. Each IC has its own budget and research agenda, often focusing on specific diseases or body systems.

Funding decisions are made through a rigorous dual-level review process. Scientific review groups or study sections, first evaluate and score research proposals for scientific and technical merit. Study sections are made up of volunteer scientists, mostly from academia, and overseen by NIH staff known as scientific review officers. Advisory councils for NIH ICs and the NIH Office of the Director then perform a second-level review for mission relevance. Ultimately, IC directors make final funding decisions, taking into consideration current research priorities and the existing funding portfolio.

The new centralization effort will apply to the first stage of the review process. NIH’s CSR, which was established in 1946 to manage the scientific review of NIH grant applications and to ensure independent, expert review free from inappropriate influence, currently manages the peer review process for more than 78% of NIH grants. The remaining 22% are reviewed in study sections within 23 ICs, each operating separately with its own administrative and support overhead. The proposed consolidation would eliminate the IC-based study sections so that CSR conducts all first-level review.

According to an analysis of FY24 data, CSR uses 0.3% of the NIH budget to review more than 66,000 applications annually. In comparison, review costs in the ICs average about 300% of CSR’s costs.

“Centralized peer review will mitigate the potential for bias by entirely separating the peer review and funding components of NIH,” said CSR Director Noni Byrnes, Ph.D.

NIH’s proposal is now under review with implementation pending external review. This includes review by HHS and the Office of Management and Budget, providing Congress with a 15-day notification period, and issuing a Federal Register notice.”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“HHS Grant Recipients:

Please review the attached Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order.”

The Office of Sponsored Programs confirmed today that the NIH no-cost extension (NCE) link is available on eRA Commons for 1^st-time NCE’s. We are processing the NIH NCE requests we received last week and submission confirmations will be provided.

The NCE link on Commons automatically becomes available 90 days before the project period end date. If principal investigators expect to request a 1^st-time NCE on an NIH-funded project, please submit these requests promptly following the instructions available here:

https://research.uic.edu/sponsoredprograms/managing-an-award/no-cost-extension/

The 2/7 NIH notice reducing indirect cost rates was challenged in court through a lawsuit from attorneys general representing 22 states, and the judge issued a temporary restraining order pausing the change. Additional lawsuits have been filed by groups including the American Council on Education, the Association of American Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the Association of American Medical Colleges. See the COGR website for more information.

Notice posted to NIH website.

“Purpose

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards a large number of grants providing substantial federal funding for research purposes.  These grants include significant payments for “indirect costs,” defined as “facilities” and “administration.”  45 CFR 75.414(a). The “facilities” category is “defined as depreciation on buildings, equipment and capital improvements, interest on debt associated with certain buildings, equipment and capital improvements, and operations and maintenance expenses.”  Id.  And the “administration” category is defined as “general administration and general expenses such as the director’s office, accounting, personnel, and all other types of expenditures not listed specifically under one of the subcategories of ‘Facilities”’ (including cross allocations from other pools, where applicable).  Id.

In issuing grants, NIH generally uses the indirect cost rate negotiated by an “agency with cognizance for F&A/indirect cost rate (and other special rate) negotiation.” Grants Policy Statement at IIA-68; see 45 C.F.R. 75.414(c)(1).  NIH may, however, use “a rate different from the negotiated rate for either a class of Federal awards or a single Federal award.”  45 C.F.R. 75.414(c)(1).  NIH may deviate from the negotiated rate both for future grant awards and, in the case of grants to institutions of higher education (“IHEs”), for existing grant awards.  See 45 CFR Appendix III to Part 75, § C.7.a; see 45 C.F.R. 75.414(c)(1).

In deviating from the negotiated indirect cost rate, NIH must “implement, and make publicly available, the policies, procedures, and general decision-making criteria that their programs will follow to seek and justify deviations from negotiated rates.”  45 C.F.R § 75.414(c)(3).

In accordance with 45 CFR 75 and its accompanying appendices, this Guidance implements and makes publicly available NIH’s updated policy deviating from the negotiated indirect cost rate for new grant awards and existing grant awards, effective as of the date of this Guidance’s issuance. Pursuant to this Supplemental Guidance, there will be a standard indirect rate of 15% across all NIH grants for indirect costs in lieu of a separately negotiated rate for indirect costs in every grant.

Providing Indirect Cost Rates that Comport with Market Rates

NIH’s mission is to “seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems” in order to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.  In furtherance of this mission, NIH spent more than $35 Billion in Fiscal Year 2023 on almost 50,000 competitive grants to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions across all 50 states and the District of Columbia.[1] Of this funding, approximately $26 billion went to direct costs for research, while $9 billion was allocated to overhead through NIH’s indirect cost rate.

Although cognizant that grant recipients, particularly “new or inexperienced organizations,” use grant funds to cover indirect costs like overhead, see 89 FR 30046–30093, NIH is obligated to carefully steward grant awards to ensure taxpayer dollars are used in ways that benefit the American people and improve their quality of life.  Indirect costs are, by their very nature, “not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted” and are therefore difficult for NIH to oversee.  See Grants Policy Statement at I-20.  Yet the average indirect cost rate reported by NIH has averaged between 27% and 28% over time.[2]  And many organizations are much higher—charging indirect rates of over 50% and in some cases over 60%.

Most private foundations that fund research provide substantially lower indirect costs than the federal government, and universities readily accept grants from these foundations.  For example, a recent study found that the most common rate of indirect rate reimbursement by foundations was 0%, meaning many foundations do not fund indirect costs whatsoever.  In addition, many of the nation’s largest funders of research—such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—have a maximum indirect rate of 15%.  And in the case of the Gates Foundation, the maximum indirect costs rate is 10% for institutions of higher education.

A sample list of foundations that provide indirect cost funding and their respective maximum indirect rate is below:[3]

Maximum Indirect Cost Rate
Organizations

10%

• Gates Foundation (for institutions of higher education)
• Smith Richardson Foundation

12%

• Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

15%

• Carnegie Corporation of New York
• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
• John Templeton Foundation
• Packard Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation (for institutions of higher education)

Indeed, one recent analysis examined what level of indirect expenses research institutions were willing to accept from funders of research. Of 72 universities in the sample, 67 universities were willing to accept research grants that had 0% indirect cost coverage.  One university (Harvard University) required 15% indirect cost coverage, while a second (California Institute of Technology) required 20% indirect cost coverage. Only three universities in the sample refused to accept indirect cost rates lower than their federal indirect rate. These universities were the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Michigan, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The United States should have the best medical research in the world. It is accordingly vital to ensure that as many funds as possible go towards direct scientific research costs rather than administrative overhead.  NIH is accordingly imposing a standard indirect cost rate on all grants of 15% pursuant to its 45 C.F.R. 75.414(c) authority.  We note in doing so that this rate is 50% higher than the 10% de minimis indirect cost rate provided in 45 C.F.R. 75.414(f) for NIH grants.  We have elected to impose a higher standard indirect cost rate to reflect, among other things, both (1) the private sector indirect cost rates noted above, and (2) the de minimis cost rate of 15% in 2 C.F.R. 200.414(f) used for IHEs and nonprofits receiving grants from other agencies.

NIH Implementation

For any new grant issued, and for all existing grants to IHEs retroactive to the date of issuance of this Supplemental Guidance, award recipients are subject to a 15 percent indirect cost rate.  This rate will allow grant recipients a reasonable and realistic recovery of indirect costs while helping NIH ensure that grant funds are, to the maximum extent possible, spent on furthering its mission.  This policy shall be applied to all current grants for go forward expenses from February 10, 2025 forward as well as for all new grants issued.  We will not be applying this cap retroactively back to the initial date of issuance of current grants to IHEs, although we believe we would have the authority to do so under 45 CFR 75.414(c).”

The automatic No-Cost Extension (NCE) link in eRA Commons for NIH awards is currently unavailable. According to the eRA Commons Helpdesk, a guide notice explaining next steps is coming soon. The Office of Sponsored Programs will continue to submit NCE requests via email until further information is available. Please consult our Updates on Federal Research page for new information or contact NotifyOSP with any questions.

Communication sent to the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing the attached notice of temporary restraining order (TRO) pursuant to a case pending in the U.S. District Court in the District of Rhode Island. This case challenges an alleged “pause” of certain Federal financial assistance, related to OMB Memorandum M-25-13, Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs (Jan. 27, 2025) (“OMB Memo”). The TRO prohibits certain actions by HHS and the other defendant agencies and is effective immediately and until further order of the court. This Notice is being provided pursuant to the Court’s directive that notice of the order be provided “to all Defendants and agencies and their employees, contractors, and grantees by Monday, February 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.”

A copy of the Court’s Order is attached for reference.

If you have any questions, please contact the contracting officer for your respective HHS contract(s), or oamp@od.nih.gov.

See related public notice posted here: https://sam.gov/opp/298fba709baa498e98d2fa201ace6a93/view .

– National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisition Management and Policy”

As of January 24, 2025, the NIH has closed notice PA-23-189, “Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed)”.

Communication posted to the NSF website

“April 18, 2025

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) was established in 1950 to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense. It does this by investing in the most promising ideas and people across all fields of science and engineering (S&E). NSF priorities are grounded in the mission of the agency and modulated by statutory directives and administration priorities.

NSF uses two statutory criteria to ensure that every award has the potential to advance new knowledge (Intellectual Merit) with maximum impact on the Nation and its people (Broader Impacts). NSF investments unleash groundbreaking discoveries, translational solutions and expand participation in STEM. These efforts strengthen our domestic workforce to fuel economic prosperity, national security, and global S&E competitiveness.

The principles of merit, competition, equal opportunity, and excellence are the bedrock of the NSF mission. NSF continues to review all projects using Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria.

NSF’s broadening participation activities, including activities undertaken in fulfillment of the Broader Impacts criterion, and research on broadening participation, must aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere.

These efforts should not preference some groups at the expense of others, or directly/indirectly exclude individuals or groups. Research projects with more narrow impact limited to subgroups of people based on protected class or characteristics do not effectuate NSF priorities.

NSF will continue to support research with the goal of understanding or addressing participation in STEM, in accordance with all applicable statutes and mandates, with the core goal of creating opportunities for all Americans.

NSF will continue to support basic and use-inspired research in S&E fields that focus on protected characteristics when doing so is intrinsic to the research question and is aligned with Agency priorities.

Sethuraman Panchanathan
Director, U.S. National Science Foundation”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, a Federal Court issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting certain actions related to Executive Orders 14187 and 14168, which is effective immediately. You can review the court’s order and the Executive Orders at https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Washington-v-Trump-NoticeOfCourtOrder-3-5-2025.pdf.

The Order prevents NSF employees from withholding federal funding because a health care entity or health professional provides gender-affirming care.

The Court’s Order also prevents NSF from implementing the requirements contained in Sections 3(e) and 3(g) of Executive Order 14,168, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

Pursuant to the Court’s directive this notice is being provided “to all Defendants, and agencies and their employees, contractors and grantees.”

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director”

Communication received by the Office of Sponsored Programs.

“Dear Colleagues;

On Friday, January 31, 2025, a Federal Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) directing Federal grant-making agencies, including the National Science Foundation (NSF), to “…not pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate… awards and obligations to provide federal financial assistance to the States, and… not impede the States’ access to such awards and obligations, except on the basis of the applicable authorizing statutes, regulations, and terms.” Although the language of the TRO is directed at State institutions, the Department of Justice has determined that it applies to all NSF award recipients. You can review the TRO here.

In order to comply with the TRO, the NSF Award Cash Management Service (ACM$) system is available for awardees to request payments as of 12:00pm EST, February 2, 2025.

This message is also available on the Executive Order Implementation webpage. Please check back regularly as we add frequently asked questions (FAQs) based on community feedback.

Sethuraman Panchanathan

Director”

Communication posted to the NSF website.

“Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-25-13, issued on January 27, 2025, directs all Federal agencies to conduct a comprehensive review of their financial assistance programs to determine programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by the recent Executive Orders. Therefore, all review panels, new awards, and all payments of funds under open awards will be paused as the agency conducts the required reviews and analysis. NSF has created an executive order implementation webpage to ensure the widest dissemination of information and updates. We will continue to communicate with you as we receive additional guidance.

All NSF grantees must comply with these Executive Orders, and any other relevant Executive Orders issued, by ceasing all non-compliant grant and award activities. Executive Orders are posted at whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions. In particular, this may include, but is not limited to conferences, trainings, workshops, considerations for staffing and participant selection, and any other grant activity that uses or promotes the use of DEIA principles and frameworks or violates Federal anti-discrimination laws. Please work with your institutional research office to assist you in complying with the Executive Orders. You can also direct your questions through this webform.

Thank you for your work advancing science, engineering, technology and innovation for our nation.”