Dear Rutgers Community,

Over the last week, the executive branch of the federal government has taken actions that have understandably caused many members of the Rutgers University community to ask questions and express concern. During these uncertain times, know that the University remains profoundly committed to its public mission of research, teaching, and service, and to our students’ success.

Yesterday, a memo from the Federal Office of Management and Budget directed all heads of executive departments and agencies to temporarily pause payments on federal grants, loans, and other programs. Details of how this pause will be executed, its legality, and its potential duration remain unclear.

The federal government is a critical partner to Rutgers University, with federal funding for student aid, research, and public service initiatives accounting for a substantial part of our university’s budget.

Please know that our offices of Government Relations, General Counsel, Research, Academic Affairs, and Finance are working together with the President’s Office to understand the impact of the pause and determine the steps the University may need to take.

In the meantime, here is our guidance to the Rutgers community on this situation: 

For Students Receiving Financial Aid
While we continue working to gain clarity on the scope of the pause in funding, know that the University is committed to ensuring your uninterrupted academic journey. As we learn more detailed information about the pause in federal payments, we will share information with you on ScarletHub.

For Faculty and the Research Community
Our guidance from yesterday remains the same. Please send any stop work orders or communication you receive from federal sponsors to federal-tracking@rutgers.edu. We will respond to you with guidance.  If you have any questions, please forward them to the e-mail address, and the appropriate Office for Research staff member(s) will respond. 

You should not stop working on any sponsored awards unless you have spoken with and received guidance from your assigned grant specialist. A legal contract governs each sponsored award, and your grant specialist must confirm decisions regarding officially stopping work.  Please continue preparing and submitting proposals according to the published agency deadlines in the relevant RFA. 

The University has contingency plans in place to deal with the pause in payment.  You do not need to take any actions unless advised by your grant specialist.  We will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

We will continue to communicate on these matters as the situation evolves. For additional information, please consult the Office of Research's Frequently Asked Questions on the pause.

Sincerely,

J. Michael Gower
 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and University Treasurer

Michael E. Zwick, Ph.D.
 Senior Vice President for Research and Institutional Official