2025 Federal Government Transition

As you are most likely aware at this point, several Executive Orders (EO) have been issued by the federal government as part of the transition to a new administration. These Executive Orders have eliminated spending authorizations for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI/DEIA/DEIB) programming and in some cases have paused the funding of existing project renewals or issuance of new grant funding for certain programs pending further review, as indictated by the Specific Executive Order. As of this writing, we anticipate that while some programs may be reduced or eliminated, the majority of the pending reviews will only result in a delay in funding for your grant-supported program. Therefore, prudent management requires that we are prepared for contingencies that may arise. Given the timing for the potentially delayed or eliminated programs, our offices are providing additional details now that address the impact resulting from program funding delays or elimination. In case a funding delay or lapse occurs, we want researchers and administrators to know how they will be affected.

1. The impact likely will be minimal if the agency review of programs affected by the Executive Orders is brief.
2. During this time period, federal funds already approved for grants or student aid programs continue to flow. As of this writing, current grants are not affected, to the extent that budgeted funds remain and the time period for their expenditure remains in effect and the specific EO does not eliminate funding for the specific program, such as those focused on DEI. Researchers should not experience problems paying project personnel, ordering supplies, and conducting normal operations. However, Federally funded contracts could receive stop-work-orders, given the nature of the activities funded thereunder.
3. Reimbursements or requests for payments will continue to be submitted by the Office of Sponsored Programs. It should be noted that several agencies, based on issued EOs, have issued notices suspending all activities, including spending, for DEIprograms and activities involving or relating to DEI objectives and principles. As such, K-State would not be able to seek reimbursement for such costs incurred after January 24^th for some agencies and January 27^th for others. If in doubt, please send inquiries to the email addresses you will find later within this guidance. It should be noted that K-State, as is the case with all Grantees, will be proceeding at our own risk and will necessarily be required to monitor cash-flow issues in the sponsored project range of accounts to ensure that K-State has adequate funds available to continue federally funded project activity. The federal government has advised its Grantee community to be frugal in our spending on these current projects to ensure that the Institution can keep these projects open as long as possible in the event the EO mandated program review continues for an extended period.
4. In accordance with the EOs, new awards, continuations, or award add-amounts will not be issued by certain federal agencies during this agency review period. This could affect ongoing projects and will require close interaction with departmental and college business officers, and the Office of Sponsored Programs.
5. Some agencies have placed a hold on the proposal peer review process, thus delaying scheduled review panels and subsequently slowing down the process of awarding new grants until after the prescribed agency review period is completed. K-State has not received any agency guidance on how long the delay will be.
6. Some funding agencies have removed certain grant competitions and have removed some proposal submission portals and have been ordered to reduce their communication during this time. More specific guidance will be issued as it is announced.

Specific effects at K-State may include the receipt of “stop-work orders” from federal agencies, which requires K-State to cease activities associated with a particular contract until further notice, or determinations regarding employees that are currently on assignment at foreign installations that results in furloughs or stop-work orders. In the case of cooperative agreements, a curtailment of project activities may occur.

During this transition period, the Office of Sponsored Programs will continue to work to develop and prepare proposal packages for submission, and these will be submitted as possible, or held in a queue until specific submission opportunities and portals reopen and revised submission dates are received from the federal government. We will look to the funding agencies to provide guidance that is more specific. The Sponsored Programs Accounting office within the Office of Sponsored Programs will ensure that all eligible requests for payments are submitted to the federal government, to the extent further government actions do not preclude such actions.

Many resources will be made available by federal agencies and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that detail agency-specific standard operating procedures moving forward. As the memo from VPR Coetzee indicated, K-State’s specific grant-by-grant guidance will be received directly from the sponsoring agency Program and Contracting Officers. Our best guidance is to refrain from implementing anticipatory actions for your grant, prior to receiving specific sponsoring agency guidance.

Kansas State University is a member of the Council on Government Relations or COGR. COGR is a national authority on federal policies and regulations affecting U.S. research institutions. As such, they serve as advocates for over 200 research universities, affiliated medical centers and independent research institutes. COGR has posted numerous resource materials relating to the 2025 federal government administration transition which can be accessed under the COGR website tab titled 2025 Administration Transition Information & Resources.

We want to emphasize again, that in addition to the above, federal agencies will distribute agency-specific guidance to their existing grantees on a “just-in-time” basis regarding program/project-specific guidance and determinations. This information is passed on to appropriate K-State researchers and support units as it is received.

If you have specific questions regarding the effect that any funding delays will have on your project, or if you would like to discuss specific mitigating strategies, you may email the Office of Sponsored Programs at research@k-state.edu for proposal and/or award questions and at spaaccts@k-state.edu to reach out to the Sponsored Programs Accounting unit for payment related questions.

As previously mentioned, the Office of Vice President for Research will continue to monitor this situation and will update the K-State Community as soon as we receive any additional or clarifying information.