Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
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University of Nebraska Medical Center

2025 Research Federal Transition Resources

Page Updated: March 24, 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.

Several investigators have received surveys asking for information related to institutional policies and practices that require special guidance. If you receive a survey, certification or other attestation from a government agency, please send those to the Sponsored Programs Administration at UNMC as soon as possible. These types of forms carry legal significance and may be asking you to answer on behalf of the entire institution. By routing these to the research office, you are ensuring that these documents are being answered by someone with signature authority that can answer on behalf of the University, and with the guidance and input of legal counsel. Answering these forms on your own could potentially lead to inaccurate responses to the federal government, which could carry legal risk to you. If you have questions, please contact the Sponsored Programs Administration.

Latest Updates: 

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).

What You Can Do

  • Reminder: Faculty should send any federal agency communications related to awards to spadmin@unmc.edu
    • This includes any work modifications, stop work notices, terminations, attestations, forms, surveys/questionnaires, or certifications
    • Do not submit, sign, or certify anything without SPA’s review

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

  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

— Please continue to use UNMC’s fully negotiated F&A rate unless a lower rate is required by the NOFO / Program.

— 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.

Award

Regarding notices you may/are receiving from HHS entities regarding Notice of Court Order and attached Preliminary Injunction Order the subject Executive Orders 14168 and 14187.   This is a notification only and there is nothing that needs to be done on your project at this time.

— 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