Federal Updates Resulting From Administration Transition

Includes Updates Issued On or After January 20, 2025

This page will be updated as new information and resources are identified.  If you have received other relevant federal agency communications, please send them to CGA Help Desk cga.helpdesk@cga.msu.edu (post-award) or OSP.Help OSPHelp@msu.edu (pre-award).  If OSP or CGA has already been copied on the communication, forwarding it again is not expected.

The new U.S. presidential administration officially began on January 20, 2025. Since then, several Executive Orders have been signed, signaling potential changes in federal priorities. These shifts could impact current and future sponsored projects and those still awaiting funding from federal agencies or sponsors.

While the recent announcements have raised concerns and questions, it is not uncommon for new administrations to pause select activities during the transition period while they work to align their programs and onboard new agency leadership.  Researchers should expect limited communication from agencies during this transition time.

MSU is monitoring communications and guidance from federal agencies.  We are also working with associations that represent us, such as the Council for Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of American Universities (AAU).  We will be posting updates and agency-specific information here as it becomes available.

Possible Impacts to Sponsored Projects

Some existing executive orders and potential future directives could have impacts to sponsored projects.  It is crucial to stay informed about these developments and factor them into your planning and decision-making to ensure compliance and minimize disruptions. 

Proposals

• OSP will continue to submit proposals as the federal agency submission systems are operational.
• Please confirm when preparing applications/proposal that the funding announcement has not been revised, postponed, or deadlines changed.  Changes or cancellations have occurred in some programs, e.g., NIFA and AFRI projects, NIH diversity supplements, and international programs (as of January 27, 2025).
• As new versions of existing Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are released, please review carefully.  While they may explicitly identify changes, not all changes in the wording may be highlighted.
• Sponsor proposal review timelines have been delayed at least at some agencies while federal agencies navigate pauses on federal assistance funding.

Awards

• Please continue with work on existing awards under the terms and conditions of that award.  If there is a change to your award, such as a stop work order and/or similar directions, we should receive an amendment. 
• Please also be aware that new awards likely will be delayed at least during the new administration’s transition period.
• Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations.  Anticipated future funding remains subject to the availability of funds and the government’s priorities and should not be considered guaranteed.  No-cost extension requests to agencies may not be approved.
• Prioritize the submission of any technical reports or deliverables that may be past due.
• We anticipate updates to award research reporting and compliance requirements.  These changes could either be implemented through direction from a federal agency or sponsor or may require an amendment on a project-by-project basis.  We will share information we receive with you, and request that you share with us if you receive a change in terms directly from your Program Officer.   If you have questions on a specific project(s), please email your OSP/CGA contact.
• Monitor Policy Updates: Keep an eye on announcements from the federal agency overseeing your grant or contract for any updates on funding or compliance requirements.

We acknowledge and appreciate the documentation developed by Arizona State University, which was adapted to be used in the information above.

MSU Communications:

• 1/24/25 Update on Executive Orders and Federal Funding | Office of Research and Innovation
• 1/24/25 Update on Federal Policies | Office of the President

• 1/28/25 Update on federal financial assistance | MSU leaders

Resources:

Agency Communications:

OMB is listed first, as it is part of the Executive Office of the President. Other agencies are listed alphabetically by acronym

OMB:

• 1/27/25: Memo M-25-13 Memorandum For Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.  This memorandum calls for a temporary pause on "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" and also directs Federal agencies "to pause all activities associated with open NOFOs, such as conducting merit review panels."
• 1/29/25: OMB Memo M-25-14 Recission of M-25-13

Department of Defense:

• Department of Defense Press Release dated 1/28/2025:  Department of Defense Statement Clarifying Defense Contracting

Department of Education:

• Department of Education Press Release dated 1/23/2025:  U.S. Department of Education Takes Action to Eliminate DEI

DOE:

• Memorandum for Heads of Departmental Elements: Agency-wide Review of Program and Administrative Activities (dated 1/20/2025)
• DOE Recission of DEI, CBP, and Justice40 Policy Flashes, Acquisition Letters, and Financial Assistance Letters
• Executive Order Update to PIER Plan Requirement (1/27/2025)

HHS/NIH:

• HHS/NIH Immediate Pause on Issuing Documents and Public Communications (memo dated 1/21/2025, pause is scheduled through February 1)
• Some program opportunities are being cancelled/removed from websites, specifically diversity supplements across all grant/program types
• NIH has taken down pages for its Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office and the NIH Sexual & Gender Minority Health Scientific Research Group, as well as the Office of Research on Women’s Health sex and gender landing page. 
• US FDA Drops Web Pages on Improving Clinical Trial Diversity (1/24/25 news story).

NASA:

• Memorandum for NASA Contractor and Grantee Community: Initial Guidance Regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility (DEIA) Executive Orders (dated 1/23/2025)
• Amendment 109: Removing DEIA Requirements from ROSES-2024 - NASA Science 

NIH:

• See information under the HHS/NIH section above

NIJ:

• As of 1/27/25, NIJ has cancelled all previously posted Notices of Funding Opportunity and associated webinars.  Please check the NIJ Current Funding Opportunities webpage for any updates.

NSF:

• News item dated 1/24/2025: UCAR, NSF NCAR Close DEI Offices Update
• NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders | NSF - National Science Foundation (dated 1/28/2025)

USAID:

• Notice on Implementation of Executive Order: Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid (dated 1/24/2025)

USDA:

• No official USDA communications as of 1/27/25, but reliable sources expect that USDA will freeze funding related to the Inflation Reduction Act, including NIFA Green Funding opportunities (reported through COGR CGA).
• All NIFA Requests for Applications are currently under review and have been removed from the upcoming deadlines calendar.  Packages have also been removed from grants.gov.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of notifications.  Project-specific notifications may be sent directly to Principal Investigators.