2025 Federal Transition Guidance for Researchers
The University of Arkansas is committed to supporting researchers as they navigate changes associated with the 2025 federal administration transition. This page is designed to provide faculty and staff with known information, guidance, and links to available relevant federal agency updates. As information continues to develop, updates will be posted here. Individual Principal Investigators (PIs) should reach out to ospdir@uark.edu with grant-specific questions and copy their department chairs and associate deans for research. PIs are also asked to forward any stop-work orders to ospdir@uark.edu and copy their department chair and associate dean for research.
Links to relevant federal and university resources will be provided on this page as updates become available. For further tracking of federal policy changes, visit the COGR Tracker.
Programs that receive federal funding assistance should continue their work unless they receive a stop-work order specific to their grant from (1) the federal government or (2) from University campus leadership. The University campus leadership has not issued any stop-work orders to date. All PIs should continue to adhere to federal effort certification and financial record keeping requirements.
Latest Updates
- Reconsideration and appeal of grant terminations will be considered on a case-by-case basis by DRI leadership. To date, all terminations have been considered by leadership, and we have filed for reconsideration of several terminated grants.
- Process for handling Stop Work Orders or other changes to Federal or other Research Awards.
Proposal Submissions
- Confirm that funding announcements remain active and unchanged.
- Anticipate potential delays in proposal reviews due to administrative changes.
- Be watchful for emails from programs that request changes to proposals or retract proposals from a pending review process.
- Continue to pursue award opportunities.
Active Awards
- Current award terms are enforceable, allowing for ongoing invoicing and reimbursements.
- Compliance requirements from agencies may be updated; prompt adherence is essential.
- Monitor email for federal communications relevant to your grants.
- Any received stop-work orders should be forwarded to ospdir@uark.edu and copied to department chairs and associate deans for research.
Communication from Federal Agencies:
Agencies that have issued communications include:
Other
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Department of Energy (DOE) (eliminating PIER Plan requirement)
- A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is blocking the Department of Energy (DOE) from implementing its recently announced 15% cap on Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs for all grants to higher education institutions.
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
Action Items for Researchers:
- Regularly check for updates from federal agencies and the university's research office.
- Please refer any emails you may receive from federal agencies regarding F&A and/or staff headcounts directly to OSP/VCRI: ospdir@uark.edu.
- Maintain open communication with program managers, department chairs, and administrators regarding any project changes or challenges.
- Ensure all project activities and expenditures comply with current federal and university guidelines including certification of effort, timely grant accounting, and reporting and close-out procedures.
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Reconsideration and appeal of grant terminations will be considered on a case-by-case basis by DRI leadership. To date, all terminations have been considered by leadership, and we have filed for reconsideration of several terminated grants.
Contact Information:
Researchers should direct inquiries related to any agency guidance specific to their proposals or awards to ospdir@uark.edu and include department chairs and associate deans for research in communications.
Researchers can continue to communicate as usual with OSP for routine pre-and post-award needs.