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.
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.
Additional Guidance:
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.
The Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued on January 31, 2025 specifies the actions agencies can take going forward.
Communication from Federal Agencies:
Agencies that have issued communications include:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Department of Energy (DOE) (eliminating PIER Plan requirement)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
- Complaint - Massachusetts v NIH
- Temporary Restraining Order - Mass v NIH
- Complaint - AAU-ACE-APLU v NIH
- Provost's update on NIH rates February 12
Action Items for Researchers:
- Regularly check for updates from federal agencies and the university's research office.
- 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.
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.
Additional Resources:
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.