Federal Agency Communications
Last updated 10/3/2025
Official communication from federal agencies related to the federal government shutdown and received by the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG) are posted here.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
Dear Financial Assistance Recipient,
As you may be aware, there has been a lapse in appropriated federal fund as of October 1, 2025. Because a funding lapse has occurred, please be advised that ACF staff may not be available to provide normal oversight and administrative support services.
For awards received prior to the lapse in funding, you may be able to continue drawing funds from prior awards during an appropriations lapse. HHS’s Payment Management System will remain operational to continue processing drawdown requests, so that payments can be made for your program. The robust internal controls that currently exist will continue to ensure the integrity of grant drawdown requests and payments. Please note, if you received your notice of grant award with restrictive terms and conditions, or if your drawdown request triggers one of the Payment Management System edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, you may not be able to drawdown funds.
If you are considering applying for additional HHS federal financial assistance funding, please be advised that the Grants.gov system will be operational and will be accepting applications. For those programs subject to the funding lapse, the Grants.gov system will accept and store applications until such time as the responsible awarding agency has the authority and funding to return to normal business operations.
Please check our website at acf.govand www.HHS.gov for updates. Thank you for your assistance during this period of government shutdown and your ongoing support of the Administration for Children and Families.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
Currently, due to the absence of Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations, Reclamation is currently implementing a shutdown to curtail non-essential agency functions. Performance under the referenced financial assistance agreement should continue during the Government Shutdown. All terms and conditions of the referenced financial agreement remain unchanged.
This notification serves to inform you that requests for reimbursements for any work performed during this funding gap may not be processed. Significant delays in processing requests for reimbursement subsequent to the funding gap may be experienced as well. For all circumstances, costs incurred in excess of current federal obligations or beyond the period of performance under any Reclamation financial assistance agreement are incurred at the Recipient’s own risk. There is no guarantee that subsequent to the funding gap, federal appropriations will be made available for obligation or extensions to the period of performance will be approved.
Received October 3, 2025 by email
As you may be aware, there has been a lapse in appropriated federal funds as of October 1, 2025. Because a funding lapse has occurred, please be advised that HHS’ Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR) staff may not be available to provide normal oversight and administrative support services.
For awards received prior to the lapse in funding, you may be able to continue drawing funds from prior awards during an appropriations lapse. HHS’s Payment Management System will remain operational to continue processing drawdown requests, so that payments can be made for your program. The robust internal controls that currently exist will continue to ensure the integrity of grant drawdown requests and payments. Please note, if you received your notice of grant award with restrictive terms and conditions, or if your drawdown request triggers one of the Payment Management System edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, you may not be able to drawdown funds.
If you are considering applying for additional HHS federal financial assistance funding, please be advised that the Grants.gov system will be operational and will be accepting applications. For those programs subject to the funding lapse, the Grants.gov system will accept and store applications until such time as the responsible awarding agency has the authority and funding to return to normal business operations.
Please check our website at www.CDC.gov and www.HHS.gov for updates. Thank you for your assistance during this period of government shutdown and your ongoing support of the CDC.
Received September 26, 2025 by email
Although there may be a lapse in appropriations for the Federal government beginning October 1, 2025, the Department of Energy has some prior-year carryover funding that will permit continued operations for the immediate future, including both funds available for the federal workforce and funds obligated to existing contracts and financial assistance instruments. The amount of prior-year carryover available is determined office-by-office and not according to the Department as a whole.
Therefore, even if much of the government is shut down, we expect to continue the performance of contracts and financial assistance instruments in accordance with their terms, including any provisions about limitations of funding. Grants Officers and Technical Project Officer (TPO) will continue to monitor each contract’s financial situation closely and take appropriate actions as necessary to either reduce/scale back operations to allow for continued activity or issue a stop work order.
Prior to taking such action, each Grants Officer and TPO is being asked to notify Senior NNSA Procurement Officials of the intended course of action. In summary, we are continuing operations for the immediate time being, but the situation remains fluid and could ultimately change.
Due to a federal government shutdown, the staff of the DOJ grant-making offices — Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) — are in a furlough status until further notice. As a DOJ award recipient, your entity may generally continue with your scheduled federally funded activities.
We are providing the following information, in question and answer format, regarding the availability of the COPS Office, OJP, and OVW staff, systems, and services.
Impact to Grantee Activities
1) Will I be able to continue activities and projects under my existing DOJ grants or cooperative agreements while the federal government is shut down?
Response: Generally, yes. Grantee activities and projects that are already funded under existing grants using prior federal fiscal year funding will generally be able to continue.
However, the exception to this guidance would be if federal employee involvement is critical to the project or activity being carried out. For example, if the project reaches a decision point that requires federal government approval, such as a grant award modification, approval of a deliverable, or award condition modification, the award recipient would not receive approval of that action until Federal staff are available.
2) Will I be able to request payments and draw down funds while the federal government is shut down?
Response: Yes, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system will remain in service to accept grant drawdown requests.
3) Will grantee-sponsored events (such as conferences, meetings, and trainings) scheduled while the federal government is shut down be affected?
Response: All existing pre-event approval requirements remain in effect.
Most approved grantee-sponsored events (e.g., conferences, meetings, trainings) scheduled while the federal government is shut down generally will not be affected and can proceed as planned. If federal employee participation in these meetings or trainings is critical for these events to proceed, the event cannot be held even if previously approved.
No new events will be approved until DOJ reopens.
4) If we operate a non-.gov website (e.g., .org) with full or partial grant funding from DOJ, are any special actions required?
Response: No. However, DOJ requests that you not push new content or notifications on behalf of DOJ until the shutdown has ended.
Availability of DOJ Staff and JustGrants
1) Will COPS Office, OJP, or OVW staff be available while the federal government is shut down?
Response: No. COPS Office, OJP, and OVW staff are on furlough status and will not be available until the shutdown has ended.
2) Will JustGrants be available while the federal government is shut down?
Response: No. JustGrants will not be available during the shutdown.
Please note: Once reopened, DOJ will examine deadlines impacted by the closure and adjust deadlines for reporting or application submission, as needed.
3) Will a programmatic or financial on-site monitoring visit, enhanced programmatic desk review, or office-based review scheduled during the shutdown still occur?
Response: No. All programmatic and/or financial monitoring scheduled during the period of the funding lapse will be postponed or cancelled. If your DOJ grant manager or financial monitor has not yet contacted you to reschedule the monitoring, expect them to do so once the government is reopened.
Availability of non-DOJ-operated Grants Management Systems
1) Will the General Services Administration (GSA) System for Award Management (SAM) remain operational during a period of a funding lapse?
Response: Yes. GSA’s SAM will remain operational and available to users. Users will be able to submit new entity registrations and renew and update to existing registrations. Users will be able to search for entity registration records and exclusion records on SAM.gov. Please check the Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov or the SAM.gov homepage for any changes to SAM's operating status.
2) Will the S. Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury Department) Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system remain operational during a period of a funding lapse?
Response: Yes. ASAP will remain operational and available to users to accept grant drawdown requests.
3) Will the Grants.gov system remain operational for searching Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) and submitting applications?
Response: Yes. Grants.gov will remain available for applicants to search and apply for open NOFOs. The Grants.gov Help Desk will also remain open during its regular 24/7 operating hours; however, the furlough of federal staff may cause delays in responses. Please note that JustGrants is not operational, preventing an applicant from completing its full application in JustGrants. DOJ will examine JustGrants deadlines impacted by the closure and extend as necessary once the shutdown has ended.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
As you may be aware, there has been a lapse in appropriated federal funds as of October 1, 2025. Because a funding lapse has occurred, please be advised that HHS, OASH, Grants and Acquisitions Management Staff may not be available to provide normal oversight and administrative support services.
For awards received prior to the lapse in funding, you may be able to continue drawing funds from prior awards during an appropriations lapse. HHS’s Payment Management System will remain operational to continue processing drawdown requests, so that payments can be made for your program. The robust internal controls that currently exist will continue to ensure the integrity of grant drawdown requests and payments. Please note, if you received your notice of grant award with restrictive terms and conditions, or if your drawdown request triggers one of the Payment Management System edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, you may not be able to drawdown funds.
If you are considering applying for additional HHS federal financial assistance funding, please be advised that the Grants.gov system will be operational and will be accepting applications. For those programs subject to the funding lapse, the Grants.gov system will accept and store applications until such time as the responsible awarding agency has the authority and funding to return to normal business operations.
Please check our website at www.health.gov and www.HHS.gov for updates. Thank you for your assistance during this period of government shutdown and your ongoing support of the HHS, OASH, Grants and Acquisitions Management.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
IMLS Closed Due to Partial Government Shutdown
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is closed due to a partial shutdown of the United States Government. Because you are associated with an active award, we want to share the following information with you.
Will IMLS staff be available to answer my questions during the shutdown?
No. IMLS staff will be unavailable, both by email and telephone.
May I continue working on my IMLS grant funded project?
Yes. You may continue to work on your IMLS-funded project, incurring appropriate obligations and/or expenses up to the award amount specified in your official award notification letter, and in accordance with your IMLS-approved budget plan and timeline. Any deliverables and/or award modifications requiring approval from IMLS staff will not be addressed until the government reopens.
May I submit performance and financial reports and/or payment requests during a shutdown?
Yes. You may submit performance and financial reports as well as payment requests during a government shutdown through your eGMS Reach account. These reports will be addressed by the appropriate staff when the government reopens.
Will my institution receive payments during the shutdown?
No. During a funding hiatus, IMLS cannot process requests for payment for its discretionary programs. Payments will resume when the government reopens.
How will I know when IMLS is open again?
Changes in our open status will be announced on our website, www.imls.gov
Received 10/1/2025 by email
Dear NASA Grantee:
Appropriations provided under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4) expired at 11:59 pm on September 30, 2025. On September 19, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through November 21. Unfortunately, H.R. 5371 was not passed in the Senate due to unrelated policy demands.
NASA appropriations expired on September 30, 2025. As of October 1, 2025, there are no annual appropriations for Federal Agencies, including NASA. As a result, the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) will be conducting an orderly shutdown on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, with limited exceptions for specific activities, unless the Agency receives additional appropriated funds.
If your institution's grant or cooperative agreement does require access to a NASA facility or participation from NASA personnel in order to perform the instrument's stated objectives, the guidance in paragraph (a) below is applicable to your institution. However, if your institution's grant or cooperative agreement does not require access to a NASA facility or the participation of NASA personnel in order to perform the instrument's stated objectives, the
guidance in paragraph (b) below is applicable to your institution.
(a) NASA has reviewed the activities currently being performed under your entity's grant or cooperative agreement, specifically those activities being performed onsite at a NASA installation and have determined those activities to not be an “excepted” activity. Therefore, these activities cannot be performed while the NASA installation is shut down and must be suspended at this time, unless the activities can be successfully performed at an offsite location (i.e., non-NASA installation without the participation of NASA personnel and within the funding currently available on your entity's grant or cooperative agreement). This funding-induced installation shutdown is unlike other times when NASA installations have been closed due to inclement weather or other circumstances.
(b) Since your entity's grant or cooperative agreement does not require access to a NASA installation or participation of NASA personnel in order to perform the instrument's stated objectives, your entity is authorized to continue to implement the subject grant or cooperative agreement as long as the instrument has available funding. NASA Form (NF) 1687, NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement, and NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions section 1.7, Incremental Funding, specify the total amount of funding that has been allotted to your entity's grant or cooperative agreement.
To the extent this grant or cooperative agreement can be implemented without access to a NASA installation or participation of NASA personnel, implementation may continue as long as funds remain available under the applicable award. However, your institution may experience a delay in funding disbursements from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS) during a lapse in appropriations as
NASA will not have personnel available to approve payment requests. As such, your institution may exhaust funding that has already been drawn down. Your institution is encouraged to carefully manage all funding that has already been drawn down in support of this award, and your institution may want to minimize activities and costs incurred to preserve funding during a shutdown.
Your institution is also reminded that the Agency is not obligated to reimburse it for the expenditure of amounts in excess of the total funds currently allotted to this grant or cooperative agreement. Also, your institution is not authorized to continue performance beyond the period covered by the allotted funding and is cautioned to closely manage all available funding, as additional funding will not be added to your award while the Agency is without an appropriation. Any activities performed during this shutdown must be carefully planned, taking into account that NASA technical and administrative personnel will not be available to support these activities during this time.
The direction in this letter is in effect until your entity is notified differently by a NASA Grant Officer. This is not expected to happen until appropriations again become available for the Federal Government, including NASA. Once Federal appropriations become available, NASA installations will reopen and funds can be added to your entity's grant or cooperative agreement as deemed necessary, and Government oversight and administrative personnel will resume their normal duties at that time.
Added 10/2/2025 from Notice Number: NOT-OD-26-004
Purpose
As you may be aware, there has been a lapse in appropriated federal fund as of October 1, 2025. Because a funding lapse has occurred, please be advised that National Institutes of Health (NIH) staff may not be available to provide normal oversight and administrative support services.
For awards received prior to the lapse in funding, you may be able to continue drawing funds from prior awards during an appropriations lapse. HHS’s Payment Management System will remain operational to continue processing those drawdown requests. The robust internal controls that currently exist will continue to ensure the integrity of grant drawdown requests and payments. Please note, if you received your notice of grant award with restrictive terms and conditions, or if your drawdown request triggers one of the Payment Management System edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, you may not be able to drawdown funds.
Please check our website at www.grants.nih.gov and www.HHS.gov for updates. Thank you for your assistance during this period of government shutdown and your ongoing support of NIH.
CONTACT WITH NIH STAFF
eRA Systems: eRA systems will be operational, but with limited support. Furthermore, use is restricted to excepted activities. eRA will provide limited end-user support for excepted/approved staff and excepted programs. The eRA service desk will not be operational. If applicants encounter system issues when applying, they should submit an eRA service desk ticket to document the issue. NIH will take this into consideration for accepting late applications when operations resume.
E-mail, Phone, Fax, and Postal Mail Contacts: For the duration of the funding lapse, NIH extramural employees will be prohibited from working (remotely or in the office). Consequently, there will be no access to voice mail, e-mail, fax, or postal mail during this period. Mail requiring someone to sign/accept may not be received. All other postal mail, fax, and voice mail communications will not be acted upon until after operations resume. It is recommended that you delay sending such communications until after operations resume.
Central E-mail Boxes for Policy and Compliance: For the duration of the funding lapse, all central e-mail boxes and web ticketing systems for questions related to NIH grants policy and compliance will not be operational.
Human Safety: In the event of an emergency involving human participant safety in NIH funded research, please contact Dr. Jon Lorsch (jon.lorsch@nih.gov).
SUBMISSION OF GRANT APPLICATIONS
For the duration of the funding lapse, applicants should continue to submit applications in accordance with the due dates outlined in the Notices of Funding Opportunities. Applications will be accepted and reviewed once operations resume. For any applications submitted immediately prior to or during the funding lapse, here is what will happen:
- For electronic submissions through Grants.gov: Grants.gov will be open and can accept electronic applications. However, applications will not be processed by NIH until operations resume.
- For electronic submission of multi-project applications through NIH’s ASSIST system: The ASSIST system will remain available and can accept applications. However, applications will not be processed by NIH until operations resume.
PEER REVIEW AND COUNCIL MEETINGS
Initial Peer Review Meetings: For the duration of the funding lapse, the NIH will not be able to conduct initial peer review meetings – whether in-person or through teleconferences or other electronic media. Also, during this time, the NIH staff will not be able to send or receive email messages or update website information. When operations resume, those meetings will be re-scheduled, and the pending applications will be processed and reviewed as soon as possible.
Also, the results, including final impact scores and summary statements, of some peer review meetings that took place prior to the orderly shutdown of operations may not be available until operations resume. Therefore, applicants with applications going through the peer review process should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the government resume and then check the NIH website for information on any review meetings that may have been extended or re-scheduled. The results of meetings held prior to a potential funding lapse will be released as soon as possible after resumption of operations.
Individuals who had agreed to serve on NIH review panels ("study sections") that were scheduled to meet during the funding lapse will have access to the Internet Assisted Review (IAR) site and will be able to upload initial critiques and initial scores, but technical support will not be available. Reviewers who were scheduled to travel for a review meeting on a day when operations are down will not be able to board a plane or train and will be sent instructions on how to handle their reservations. Reviewers who are attending an NIH review panel on the day of orderly shutdown will be able to change their travel plans and return home. Therefore, peer reviewers should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the NIH will resume and then check the NIH website for information on meetings that have been re-scheduled. As soon as possible after operations resume, the NIH Scientific Review Officer in charge of the review meeting will contact those reviewers with more detailed information.
Advisory Council Review: The NIH will not be able to conduct Advisory Council review meetings – whether in-person or through teleconferences or other electronic media - during the funding lapse. Also, during this time, the NIH staff will not be able to send or receive email messages, or update website information, and NIH computer systems that support review functions will not be operational. Therefore, no applications will be processed for Council review or will be taken to Council meetings during that time. When operations resume, those pending applications will be processed, and meetings will be re-scheduled as soon as possible.
Applicants with applications pending Council review during that time should check the NIH website for information after operations resume. Advisory Council members should stay tuned to the national news to determine when operations of the government will resume and then check the NIH website for information on Council meetings that have been re-scheduled. As soon as possible after operations resume, the NIH Executive Secretary in charge of the Council meeting will contact those Council members with more detailed information.
AWARDED GRANTS
Currently Active Grant Awards: For the duration of the funding lapse, all work and activities performed under currently active NIH grant awards may continue. However, see below for limits on performing many of the reporting requirements associated with NIH grant funding.
Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR): For any annual or final RPPRs due during the funding lapse, eRA Commons will be available. Users must submit reports on time, and NIH staff will review reports after operations resume.
Notices of Award (NoAs): With the exception of excepted programs, no NIH grant awards will be processed for the duration of the funding lapse. For any awards processed before the funding lapse that have an issue date during the funding lapse, the awards will not be sent to the recipient on the issue date. Once operations resume, all pending NoAs will be sent. This will not affect the start date nor the issue date of these awards; it just affects the date the award document is sent to the recipient and available for access in the eRA Commons. In the absence of receiving the NoA, institutions may use pre-award costs authority at their own risk.
No-cost Extension (NCE) Notifications: eRA Commons will remain accessible during the funding lapse; however, staff will not be available to review and approve requests. For any grants due to expire during the funding lapse, recipients should submit NCE notifications in accordance with standard requirements. Requests for second and greater NCEs, which require prior approval, the request may be submitted but will not be reviewed until operations resume.
General Access to eRA Commons and Other OER-Supported Systems: eRA Commons will be accessible during the funding lapse. Users will be able to access the Commons for viewing electronically submitted applications, accessing Internet Assisted Review, or processing such actions as Commons Registration, xTrain documents, Closeout documents, and/or FCOI notifications etc. However, limited staff support will be available.
Prior Approval Requests and Other Communications: NIH extramural employees will have no access to voice mail or e-mail during the funding lapse. All prior approval requests and other communications will not be received until operations resume. It is recommended that you delay sending such communications until after operations resume.
Access to HHS Program Support Center (PSC)/Payment Management System (PMS): For awards received prior to the lapse in funding, recipients may continue drawing funds during an appropriations lapse. PMS will remain operational to continue processing drawdown requests, so that payments can be made. The robust internal controls that currently exist will continue to ensure the integrity of grant drawdown requests and payments. Please note, recipients of grant awards with restrictive terms and conditions, or requests that trigger one of the PMS edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, may not be able to drawdown funds. Recipients can continue to complete and submit their Federal Financial Reports (FFR) in PMS. However, NIH staff will not be available to review and process FFRs until operations resume.
ANIMAL WELFARE
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) business processes are funded by annual appropriations and are not designated as excepted activities under the Antideficiency Act. No activities associated with the OLAW mission will continue for the duration of the funding lapse. For the duration of the funding lapse, PHS-funded institutions are encouraged to delay sending all Assurance documents, preliminary or final reports of noncompliance or IACUC suspensions as required under the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals IV.F.3, or other correspondence due to OLAW until after operations resume. OLAW will extend deadlines for all reporting activities as necessary to compensate for the period of the lapse in funding and the unavailability of the website and OLAW operational support.
Institutions are reminded that their obligation under their Animal Welfare Assurance to ensure ongoing local support and oversight, and to address and correct all situations that affect animal welfare and compliance with the PHS Policy continues during this period.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
Dear National Park Service Financial Assistance Recipient:
Please note: This message is being sent from an unmonitored inbox. During the lapse in appropriations, NPS staff will not be available to respond to questions. Please review the information below carefully.
As of October 1, 2025, there are no annual appropriations for some Federal Agencies, including the National Park Service (NPS).
NPS financial assistance agreements include grants, cooperative agreements, and task agreements. Regardless of the additional information and criteria provided below, existing financial assistance agreements that prevent imminent harm to life or property — including the care of captive animals — will continue during the lapse in appropriations.
Access to NPS sites and employees will be very limited beginning October 1, 2025, until further notice. Therefore:
- No work is to be performed under financial assistance agreements that require access to NPS sites, NPS personnel, or that are dependent on additional appropriations.
- Recipients must refrain from providing services under such agreements, ensure that any sub-recipients comply with this notice, and otherwise minimize costs.
Some financial assistance agreements are not dependent on additional appropriations, access to NPS sites, or substantial involvement of NPS personnel. Performance of grants in this category may continue during the lapse in appropriations.
While cooperative agreements and task agreements typically require substantial involvement for at least a portion of their period of performance, they may also continue if during the lapse they do not depend on additional appropriations, access to NPS sites or personnel, or substantial involvement.
If you are uncertain whether performance should continue for your financial assistance agreement(s), performance should cease until you can obtain clarification from your point of contact, or until further written communication is issued.
This notification remains in effect until you receive further written communication from NPS. That is not expected to occur until appropriations are again available.
Access to Funds (ASAP): Recipients will continue to have access to funds through the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. You may draw down funds as needed to cover allowable costs, consistent with the terms of your award.
Please note that any accounts currently suspended will remain suspended until addressed by your Awarding Officer after appropriations are restored. During the lapse in appropriations, ASAP Help Desk support may be limited. For reference, the U.S. Treasury/Fiscal Service ASAP Help Desk contact information is 1-855-868-0151 (option 2, then option 3), and asaphelpdesk@fiscal.treasury.gov.
Reminder: This message was sent from an unmonitored email inbox. During the lapse in appropriations, no NPS staff will be available to respond to questions. Once appropriations are restored, further guidance will be provided by NPS Financial Assistance Awarding Officers.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
Managing Organization Cognizant Point of Contact,
This memorandum provides notification that the appropriations under which the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has been operating expires September 30, 2025. Consequently, NSF will shut down its operations with limited exemptions for specifically excepted activities.
NSF Recipients may continue to perform under their cooperative agreements and cooperative support agreement for work where sufficient funds were obligated prior to a lapse in appropriations, and where performance does not require Government support, such as quality assurance oversight or other actions required of NSF staff. The Award Cash Management Service (ACM$) will be available for use by recipients to drawdown funds on existing awards. In the event of a lapse in government appropriations, payments will be processed on an intermittent schedule until normal operations resume.
Additionally, the absence of NSF personnel to process administrative actions or provide needed authorizations during a lapse in appropriations does not constitute agency approval of any pending action.
For Major Facilities Construction or Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Implementation activities, recipients may continue work only up until the next full monthly reporting period requirement, not to exceed 30 days, even if funds are available. Recipients must not enter into any subawards, contracts, or other like arrangements, that require NSF prior approval. If the lapse in appropriations continues to the monthly reporting period, not to exceed 30 days, recipients must minimize expenditures while taking such steps to orderly suspend these activities in a manner that does not imminently threaten the safety of human life or the protection of property.
In all cases, recipients must take appropriate steps to ensure that property and equipment acquired in whole or in part with Federal funds are protected and otherwise secured from harm during a lapse in appropriations.
To the extent legally permissible, NSF is committed to minimize the negative impacts this disruption may have on the science and engineering enterprise and, as necessary, may issue follow-on guidance after a lapse in appropriations ends. In the event that an emergency situation arises that endangers life or property, please contact Tim Kashmer, Branch Chief, Infrastructure Support Branch by telephone at (703) 292-4818 or by e-mail at: tkashmer@nsf.gov, as well as the cognizant NSF Program Officer. Program Officers who have been designated as “excepted personnel” may also engage with recipients in emergency situations.
The direction in this memorandum remains effective until an appropriation authorizing NSF to operate is signed by the President at which time this direction is rescinded.
Second email received 10/1/2025
This email provides notification that the appropriations under which the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has been operating expired on September 30, 2025. Consequently, NSF will shut down its operations with limited exemptions for specifically excepted activities.
Please review the Assistance and Contract-Related Policy and Systems Issues During a Lapse in Appropriations page at https://www.nsf.gov/shutdown/recipients for more information.
Received 10/1/2025 by email
A lapse in federal appropriations has occurred, which has affected the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA operations, including operations performed under contract, have been limited to excepted activities. Access to Government facilities and resources, including equipment and systems, will be limited and personnel necessary to administer contract performance may not be available.
NOAA contracts and purchase orders are authorized to continue to the extent that they are not affected by the lapse in appropriations.
Generally, supply and service contracts that are funded beyond the date of the lapse in appropriation and do not require access to Government facilities, active administration by Government personnel or the use of government resources in a manner that would cause the government to incur additional obligations during the lapse in appropriation may continue. If a delivery date for a contract falls during the period of a lapse in appropriations, Government personnel may not be available to receive delivery. Contractors will be directed to consult with a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) or Contracting Officer before attempting to make a delivery. Contracts with unexercised options and contracts that are partially funded contain self-limiting terms and conditions that prohibit performance of unfunded work.
Some contracts require access to Government facilities, resources, or require the active participation of Government personnel. These contracts include those for “excepted” and “non-excepted” activities and will likely require individual attention. We are working to communicate directly with each of these contractors. However, there are a large number, and we may not be able to act on each one before attention is needed. Therefore, please communicate with a COR or Contracting Officer or if you believe you have a contract that may require access to Government facilities, resources, or active administration by Government personnel to enable performance during a lapse in appropriations and for information about “excepted” and “non-excepted” status.
If your contract requires access to Government facilities, resources, or active administration by Government personnel, and is determined “excepted,” you will be granted access to facilities through a list maintained by Government security personnel. If you have questions, please contact one of the Contracting Officers provided in Attachment A who will be available during the lapse in appropriations.
Received on October 3, 2025 by email
As you may be aware, the federal government is currently operating under a lapse in appropriations (commonly referred to as a government shutdown) that began on October 1. If you are currently supporting Oak Ridge National Laboratory through active subcontracts, please continue your work as scheduled unless directed otherwise by the Procurement Officer named in your agreement or purchase order. We will promptly communicate any updates or changes that may arise.