March 14 Federal Government shutdown preparation

Mar. 13, 2025

Good afternoon,

Reports indicate a likely impasse on funding the federal government. Absent an agreement, a federal government shutdown will occur as of 10:01 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, March 14.

Campus leadership, the Research & Innovation Office (RIO), the Office of Contracts and Grants (OCG), enrollment management, financial and business services, student affairs, and human resources are closely monitoring the situation as it evolves and preparing for possible impacts to federally sponsored projects and programs.

Given the fluid and unpredictable state of the federal government at this time, we are preparing for a wide range of possible impacts. An extended shutdown could expand beyond research operations to impact programs in human resources, financial aid and others.

While we don’t know if a shutdown will occur, or the length if one should occur, we are making preparations. Guidance will be provided for units most likely to be immediately impacted by a government shutdown.

If a shutdown occurs, we will communicate regular updates regarding the shutdown and its effects on CU Â鶹ӰԺ. Pre-shutdown actions with principal investigators have already been communicated and other relevant notifications will be sent in coordination with campus communicators at schools, colleges and institutes. Ìý

If the government does shut down at 10:01 pm MT on Friday, March 14, we will send a communication on the morning of Saturday, March 15, to alert PIs to the start of the shutdown.

Following initial notifications, we will continue to share updates with our community through our federal transition website and CU Â鶹ӰԺ Today, as well as the RIO Bulletin. Please see the Office of Contracts & Grants homepage for specific information about federal contracts and grants.

Thank you all for your continued patience and dedication to our CU Â鶹ӰԺ mission in the midst of ongoing uncertainty and disruption.Ìý

Sincerely,
Justin Schwartz Ìý Ìý
Chancellor

Russell Moore
Provost

Massimo Ruzzene
Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation
Dean of the Institutes