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2025 Research Federal Transition Resources

Page Updated: February 28, 2025

Since the transition to a new U.S. presidential administration on January 20, 2025, several Executive Orders have been signed, signaling potential changes in federal priorities. These shifts 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 period.

Latest Updates: 

What You Can Do

If you’re interested in supporting the University of Nebraska and biomedical research, you can submit a comment to the Appropriations Committee ahead of the Health and Human Services hearing on Monday, March 10.

This is especially important as the committee will be discussing the proposed cuts to the Tobacco Tax Settlement Biomedical Research Development Fund, which directly impacts crucial medical and health-related research across Nebraska.

To submit, follow the guidance provided in the document below:
Comment Portal Guidance

Comments must be submitted by 8 a.m. on March 10 to be included in the official record.

  • Review the information provided on this page, through communications from the NU system, and in the additional resources included below.

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    If you have questions about specific projects, please email SPA at spadmin@unmc.edu.
  • You may receive direct communications from federal agencies regarding these matters, such as a change in terms from your Program Officer.
  • Please send any relevant federal agency communications to spadmin@unmc.edu. This helps us better understand the evolving landscape and ensures we can provide timely and accurate guidance. There is no need to forward it again if SPA was copied on the original communication.
  • If you’re interested in participating in research and science advocacy activities, Strategic Communications has set up an interest form where you can provide your details and information about your areas of research expertise or interest.

Thank you for your continued collaboration and patience as we navigate these changes together.

What We're Doing

UNMC is monitoring communications and guidance from federal agencies and working with our government relations teams to stay informed on these developments. We are also working closely with our NU system counterparts and partner associations, including the Council for Governmental Relations (COGR) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

 

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

— Sponsor proposal review timelines have been delayed at some federal agencies while they navigate pauses on federal assistance funding.

— SPA will continue to submit proposals as the federal agency submission systems are operational.

— When submitting to proposals to NIH please include the  
following in the Budget Justification:
     
UNMC has a negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) for all federally sponsored research, as established with our cognizant agency. This rate has been applied in our budget calculations for this proposal. However, we fully acknowledge the guidance outlined in NIH Notice NOT-OD-25-068, which states that for certain awards, NIH may impose a restricted indirect cost rate of 15% of total direct costs. If this proposal is awarded under a funding mechanism subject to this limitation, we understand that NIH will adjust the indirect cost rate accordingly. We are committed to complying with NIH policies and will align our budget to the applicable indirect cost rate as determined at the time of award.

— Please confirm, when preparing applications or proposals, that the funding announcement has not been revised, postponed, or had its deadlines changed. Changes or cancellations have occurred in some programs and agencies.

— As new versions of existing Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) are released, please review them carefully.

- While they may explicitly identify changes, not all wording changes may be highlighted. 

- SPA will also be alert to any changes but, with the scope and rapidity of the changes, it is essential that the PI takes ultimate responsibility.

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, SPA should receive an amendment from the funding agency notifying us of the change.

— Be aware that new awards will likely be delayed during the new administration’s transition period.

— SPA will continue to process account setup as usual as awards come in.

— Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations. Anticipated future funding is subject to the availability of funds and government priorities and should not be considered guaranteed. No-cost extension requests may not be approved.

— We anticipate updates to award 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.

— Monitor Policy Updates: Stay informed about announcements from the federal agency overseeing your grant or contract regarding any updates on funding or compliance requirements.


Other Updates

Read a message from Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies and Vice Chancellor for Research Ken Bayles to the UNMC community about the National Institutes of Health policy statement issued February 7.

The Office of Management and Budget issued a new memo on January 29 (OMB Memo M-25-14), which rescinded the earlier memo M-25-13 that had placed a temporary pause of federal financial assistance programs. 

  • Executive orders remain in effect. Federal agencies continue to review existing grants for compliance, but open awards will remain active for now.
  • This rescission does not override existing stop-work or suspension orders. Therefore, unless instructed otherwise, investigators should continue following any stop-work orders or suspensions they have received from funding agencies.

Various agencies have issued announcements or directives outlining their plans for complying with the executive orders:

Additional Resources