2024 Government Shutdown Information
As new information is released, this page will be updated to provide the latest information and resources.
2023 Government Shutdown Information
November 15, 2023
The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill providing temporary funding for the federal government on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, possibly delaying the government shutdown to early 2024. More details will be released as they are made available.
November 14, 2023
A federal government shutdown is possible starting on Friday, November 17, 2023. The staff in the Office of the Dean for Research (ODFR), and specifically the Office of Research and Project Administration (ORPA), together with Sponsored Research Accounting in the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, are closely monitoring the situation and will provide as much information as we can in the upcoming days given the circumstances.
- Should there be a shutdown, all non-essential federal staff will be furloughed, as no appropriation bills have been signed.
- Non-essential staff would generally include those with whom the University works regarding research funding.
- Embassies, consulates, and law enforcement would continue to operate though they may also experience disruptions.
The Office of the Dean for Research is carefully monitoring the impacts of the shutdown with Princeton's offices of Government Affairs, Finance and Treasury, the Dean of the Faculty, the Dean of the Graduate School and other partners of the research enterprise on campus.
In the meantime, ORPA stands ready to assist you with any shutdown-related questions or project/proposal-specific concerns you may have. Please reach out to your ORPA Representative or call or email for assistance: (609) 258-3091 | [email protected].
Affected Agencies
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Federal Agencies Affected
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ALL Agencies will be affected - please see the agency-specific contingency plans for each for additional information.
Below are our biggest sponsors:
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Department of Energy (DOE)
- Department of Defense (DOD)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
FAQs
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Existing federally funded projects should continue without disruption
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Based on previous government shutdowns, existing research projects funded by federal agencies should continue without disruption and may be spent to their full authority.
The University will continue to support research activities though agencies will be unable to reimburse us for these expenditures until after the shutdown has ended.
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Affected agencies will continue to accept proposals with published due dates prior to shutdown
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It is important to review the available Agency Contingency Plans for relevant information regarding proposal submissions and reach out to ORPA staff with questions regarding specific programs/solicitations.
Agency personnel will be unavailable to provide critical information to proposers seeking clarification and guidance prior to due dates.
Agencies may vary in how they receive, review and score proposals that have been submitted without the benefit of agency engagement and support.
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No new solicitations
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New solicitations will not be issued. Presumably, solicitations that would have been issued during the shutdown period will be issued when the shutdown concludes however this may depend upon the length of the shutdown.
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University will not receive new federal awards
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The University will not receive new awards from federal agencies.
This delay could significantly affect new research programs at Princeton that would have otherwise begun.
The impact of this will become more apparent and significant as the shutdown continues.
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PPPL & GFDL
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Researchers working at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) or the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) are encourages to review the agency-level contingency plans and are welcome to contact ORPA with questions or concerns regarding the availability of government spaces/systems, resources essential to research operations during the shutdown.
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H-1B Visas & Immigration Services
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Hiring staff members using H-1B visas will likely be impossible given required certification from the Department of Labor, which typically suspends these services during a shutdown. Other fee-based immigration services (e.g. Optional Practical Training applications, green card renewals) should not be immediately impacted.