March 2024 Potential Federal Government Shutdown Guidance
3/23/24 Update:
President Joe Biden signed legislation funding the government through September.
3/9/24 Update:
President Joe Biden on Saturday signed a $460 billion package of spending bills approved by the Senate in time to avoid a shutdown of many key federal agencies. The legislation’s success gets lawmakers about halfway home in wrapping up their appropriations work for the 2024 budget year.
The measure contains six annual spending bills and had already passed the House. In signing it into law, Biden thanked leaders and negotiators from both parties in both chambers for their work, which the White House said will mean that agencies “may continue their normal operations.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers are negotiating a second package of six bills, including defense, in an effort to have all federal agencies fully funded by a March 22 deadline.
1/19/24 Update:
President Joe Biden signed into law a short-term funding extension on Friday, the White House announced, averting a partial government shutdown. The short-term funding extension sets up two new funding deadlines on March 1 and March 8.
11/16/23 Update:
The Federal government has passed another short term continuing resolution measure that will fund government operations. The plan is not a full-year spending bill and only extends funding until January 19 for priorities including military construction, veterans’ affairs, transportation, housing and the Energy Department. The rest of the government – anything not covered by the first step – will be funded until February 2.
9/30/23 Update:
The Federal government has passed a short term continuing resolution measure that will fund government operations through 11/17/23. A long term spending bill must still be passed for FY2024. A 11/18/23 shutdown is possible if an agreement is not reached.
RII/SPS recommends the research community continue to consider these proactive recommendations:
The Federal government has not yet passed appropriations bills to fund government operations for the full Federal fiscal year (starting on 10/1/23). A full or partial shutdown is possible. Each Federal agency may handle the shutdown and determination of essential personnel differently. Projects should continue unless advised otherwise by your Federal sponsors.
Proactive tips:
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In the event the varying agency portals shut down, please prepare by having a PDF copy of the program announcement you are working on with your PI downloaded to your computer in the event the portals shut down and we do not have access to that information.
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If/when the varying federal agencies close their portals and hopefully extend their submission deadlines accordingly, SPS Preaward will adhere to the updated deadlines as we are made aware of them. SPS Preaward will continue to submit proposals as the federal agencies submission systems are operational.
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Adhere to currently posted guidelines for grant submissions. Post-September 30 deadlines may be affected, monitor submission portals or agency websites for updates.
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Peer reviews/study sections are not expected to occur in the event of shutdown, which may impact travel plans for faculty who are reviewers.
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Resolve pending programmatic issues on existing awards with your program officials before September 30, anticipating potential Federal office disruptions. Program officials may be furloughed and unable to communicate.
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Identify federally funded grants that expire in January-April 2024 and request extensions if needed. You may submit a Backstop to extend your UArizona financial account(s) now if your department/college supports it.
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Prepare for potential impacts on future sponsor award issuances by submitting an Advance Account Request if supported by your department/college.
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NSF postdoc fellows paid directly by NSF (not through UArizona) may not receive stipend payments during shutdown.
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Faculty working at a federal agency on an IPA agreement should immediately contact the agency to determine next steps.
The White House has released a summary of agency contingency plans and a FAQ should a shutdown occur.
The following federal agencies are covered/funded by an appropriations bill so their grants and agreements should not be affected.
No bills yet passed.
The following federal agencies are NOT covered by an appropriations bill.
- Department of Defense
- Department of Energy
- Department of Education
- Veterans Administration
- Department of Labor
- Health and Human Services (includes the National Institutes of Health)
- Department of Agriculture; REE: ARS/ERS/NIFA
- NASA, December Guidance
- National Science Foundation
- Department of Homeland Security
- Department of Justice
- Housing and Urban Development
- Department of Interior
- Department of State
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Treasury
- Department of Commerce
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- Environmental Protection Agency
In general, the following will be true for agencies in shutdown. Please contact Sponsored Projects Services for specific questions about your proposal and/or award.
Awards:
- For existing awards, work should continue if obligated funds are available and the work does not require support of federal employees or facilities.
- Additional funds, including continuation/supplement and new awards will not be awarded during the shutdown.
Proposals:
- New Federal funding opportunities will not be posted during the shutdown.
- Applications can be submitted, but deadlines may be affected. Check with your sponsor. Systems for proposal submission will be available, but proposals will not be reviewed. If the systems experience technical issues, they will not be resolved.
Reporting:
- Progress/Technical reports must be submitted on time.
- Financial reports must be submitted on time.
The longer the shutdown lasts, the more it will affect peer review of pending applications and the awarding of new, supplemental, and continuation funding, as well as payment on existing awards. Guidance and links for individual federal agencies and sponsors for sub-federal awards will be posted here as they are received. If you receive information that isn't already on this page, please forward it to sponsor@arizona.edu for inclusion.