Dear Colleagues,
As you are aware, President Trump has issued a series of Executive Orders that may impose new restrictions on federal research agencies, potentially affecting research projects at George Mason University. In addition, the Acting Director of the Office of Budget and Management yesterday issued a memo stating that all federal agencies “must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders…” The pause takes effect at 5 pm EST today.
In the immediate term, the pause in federal disbursements does not require interruptions in research activities. University leadership is actively determining the totality of how this may impact the university, including whether any exceptions may apply, and exploring options that may be necessary to help maintain business continuity in the long run.
At present, the university has not received official guidance from the relevant federal agencies on Executive Orders. Given that agencies responsible for compliance oversight are still organizing under the new Executive Orders, it may take some time before formal directives are released. In the meantime, we are closely monitoring the situation and staying alert to any developments that could impact our operations.
What to do for now
- Continue current work, and do not overspend. All faculty should proceed cautiously with their federally funded projects. Until we know more, it is not possible to determine which costs will ultimately be reimbursed. Be mindful of this.
- Notify us of updates. If you receive any guidance from federal agencies regarding policy changes or specific administrative actions tied to the Executive Orders or the funding pause, please forward that information to ospaor@gmu.edu immediately, just in case we have not received word.
- Proposal submissions. As of now, proposals to federal agencies can still be submitted as usual. Faculty should carefully review any amendments or updates to solicitations or requests for proposals posted on the respective funding agency’s website.
What to expect next
Soon we will begin working with Deans on a process for systematically identifying impacted projects, and determining how to address potential financial impacts. Once those decisions have been made, we will update the campus community accordingly.
Thank you for your patience and collaboration during this transitional period. Should you have any questions, please reach out to research@gmu.edu. We will do our best to provide timely responses and support.
Best regards,
James Antony, PhD
Provost and Executive Vice President
Andre Marshall, PhD
Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact