Updates on Federal Executive Orders and Research Activities

This webpage is dynamic and updated frequently. Please check back often.

Last updated March 6, 2025

Nationwide preliminary injunction stops NIH F&A rate cut

On Wednesday, March 5, the US District Court in the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against NIH policy NOT-OD-25-068 titled “Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates”, issued February 7, which would have cut the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) facilities and administrations costs (F&A) to 15%. The ruling prevents NIH from implementing the rate change. 

The preliminary injunction ruling combines the three separate cases that were brought before the court, including the case the State of Oregon was party to, and a case filed by the Association of American Universities (AAU) and Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) that the University of Oregon provided evidence in support of. The plaintiffs represent more than 1,000 institutions across all 50 states and territories, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.  

Were the preliminary injunction ruling to be appealed by NIH and the US Department of Health and Human Services, the case would advance to the First Circuit of the US Court of Appeals for review. 

As stated previously, principal investigators (PIs) and departmental grant administrators are advised to use the UO’s existing applicable F&A rate for proposal submissions. 

Changes to Pre-Award Requests 

Given that the federal funding landscape continues to rapidly change, Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) will no longer approve pre-award requests; specifically, these are requests to set up accounts or indices before awards are received or contracts are fully negotiated. SPS will continue to set up accounts as quickly as possible once award documents are finalized. 

Resources for Researchers

At this time, the Council on Government Relations (COGR) is providing the most complete guidance on how the executive orders could affect operations. COGR's mission is to empower an unparalleled US academic research ecosystem by advancing sound federal policies and regulations that are vital to US science and innovation leadership and our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Request access to the COGR membership portal.

Please note this page is dynamic and information could be incomplete.

Email Updates

The following message was sent to tenure track and research faculty, department grant administrators, OVPRI centers and institutes, core facility staff, Government and Community Relations, Office of General Counsel and OVPRI staff on Friday, February 28.

Notice regarding request for assurances and Feb. 26 president's executive order

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) has become aware that some agencies are reaching out to researchers and asking them to certify that the UO is compliant with recent executive orders (EO). If you receive this type of communication, please forward it to OVPRI (vpri@uoregon.edu) and the Office of General Counsel (gcounsel@uoregon.edu). Examples of this type of communication may include:

“The grant does not include ‘DEI or DEIA’ performance requirements in compliance with EO14151 (‘Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing’). Or the grant activities funded do not include ‘gender ideology’ in compliance with EO14168 (‘Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government’).”

These requests may also be embedded within awards or other communications from funding agencies.

It’s important to note that most of the EOs that apply to the research community (e.g., those pertaining to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility initiatives) have been blocked by preliminary injunctions or by temporary restraining orders. If you have received any such request for assurance, certification, or attestation upon either your individual behalf or that of the university, do not sign it, but rather forward to OVPRI and General Counsel as noted above. 

February 26 Executive Order

As you have likely heard, the White House issued a new executive order on Wednesday, February 26 that charges every federal agency head, in consultation with the agency’s Department of Government Efficiency team, to review existing contracts and grants.

We are uncertain how this EO will be implemented by agencies. We continue to work with our peers and allies in AAU, APLU, COGR, and the Big 10 to understand the implications of such orders and coordinate responses where needed. As grant-funded work is happening, please only make grant-supported expenditures that are essential. OVPRI, General Counsel, and the President’s Executive Team are analyzing the potential implications of the EO.

If you receive specific guidance or specific grant notifications from agencies, please continue to forward them to OVPRI and General Counsel.

We understand that this rapid pace of change within the federal landscape is causing stress and uncertainty for our research community. The UO makes available many resources through the Employee Assistance Program (via Canopy, a Portland-based company) including access to counseling services. 

We continue to monitor the situation. As a reminder, the OVPRI federal executive order webpage is regularly updated with information about executive orders related to research.  

Prior Emails

Helpful External Websites

Guidelines for the Research Community

On Wednesday, January 29, the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued Memorandum M-25-14 to rescind OMB Memorandum M-25-13, which had ordered a pause on all federal funding assistance including billions of dollars in grants and loans to colleges and universities.

UPDATE: As of March 6, a judge has issued a ruling, enjoining the government from "...reissuing, adopting, implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating under a different name the directives in OMB Memorandum M-25-13." Further, the ruling indicates that the government is banned from "pausing, freezing, blocking, canceling, suspending, terminating, or otherwise impeding the disbursement of appropriated federal funds to the States under awarded grants, executed contracts, or other executed financial obligations." 

The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) continues to monitor the 2025 presidential administration transition. Below are some helpful guidelines.

  • Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations. Anticipated future funding remains subject to availability of funds and should not be considered guaranteed.
  • If you are waiting to hear back from a program officer, please be aware they may not be able to respond during the agency communications pause.
  • Reports and deliverables. Prioritize the submission of any technical reports or deliverables that may be past due.
  • Monitor policy updates: Keep an eye on announcements from the federal agency overseeing your grant for any updates on funding or compliance requirements.
  • Datasets. Principal investigators are encouraged to ensure that they have access to and control over datasets.
  • Continue to submit proposals. Closely monitor the funding announcement to see if the proposal criteria changes.
  • OVPRI and the Office of General Counsel ask that you forward any communications from granting agencies relating to stop work orders or modifications to existing grants.