Updates on Federal Actions Related to Research

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

Last updated January 22, 2026.

 

Open Forum for Research

Betsy Boyd, senior associate vice president for Government and Community Relations; Val Whelan, assistant vice president for Sponsored Projects Services; and Kevin Reed, vice president and general counsel, will lead a research open forum January 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. via Zoom, the link for which has shared been shared via the weekly update email.

On December 1, 2025, interim VP for Research and Innovation, Geri Richmond, held an open forum for research. Topics included updates on emerging challenges to federal research funding (e.g., the Financial Accountability in Research [FAIR] model, federal agency funding) and an introduction to the OVPRI strategic plan.

View a recording of the forum and presentation slides on our open forum for research webpage.

Guidelines for the Research Community

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.
  • Ensure all technical reports and deliverables are submitted by their due dates and prioritize the submission of any that are 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.
  • 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, modifications to existing grants, requests for attestations, and spending justification requests.

OVPRI has adopted a process to appeal the termination of contracts and grants by federal agencies (requires DuckID to log in).

Additionally, the UO continues to monitor and communicate any immigration updates, and their potential impact to our international, Dreamer, and undocumented students, faculty, and staff.

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Recent Federal Actions

Past Federal Actions
Statements in Response to Federal Actions

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Resources for Researchers

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

At this time, the Council on Government Relations (COGR) is providing the most complete guidance on how the executive orders could affect operations, including a summary of executive orders. 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.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is tracking the actions of President Trump's administration that affect higher education. Chronicle of Higher Education's Trump's Agenda for Higher Ed Tracker (sign in with your DuckID to access Chronicle content)

The Chronicle is also tracking the development of an indirect costs (also known as facilities and administrative, or F&A) model. Read more about the Financial Accountability in Research (FAIR) model (requires UO VPN or account to access).

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has compiled a fiscal year (FY) 2026 research and development appropriations dashboard. It compares the White House, House, and Senate spending proposals for science and technology programs in FY 2026.

The Association of Public & Land-grant Universities (APLU) provides an overview of appropriations priorities annual requests and a summary of the FY26 President’s Budget Request.

APLU’s Office of Governmental produced a detailed analysis of FY26 funding levels for the association’s priority accounts spanning research, student aid, and other federal programs. 

APLU also maintains a tracker compiling F&A language across all FY26 appropriations bills. 

FAQs for Researchers

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Tracking Terminations and Appeals

  • Grant terminations received: 19, totaling $1.5 million
  • Change from previous week: 0
  • Relevant agencies: NEA, NEH, NSF, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Economic Development Administration
  • Active appeals: 0
  • Terminations lifted: 13 (NIH: 11; NSF: 1; Corporation for National Community Service: 1), totaling $6.4 million

These figures are current as of 1/21.

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Email Updates

The following message was sent to graduate students, 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 Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

The federal appropriations process continues. Yesterday, the third “minibus” that includes the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development has been released. It is expected that the bill will go before the House of Representatives this week and to the Senate next week before it is sent to the president for his signature.

Previously, the FY26 Energy-Water, Commerce-Justice-Science, and Interior-Environment bills passed the House with broad bipartisan support in a 397-28 vote. Analysis suggests that the various minibus bills being sent to the White House largely reject the deep proposed cuts to science.

Reaffirming the Importance of SBIR/STTR

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have released a report in support of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, noting the critical role these programs play to advance science, technology, and security in the US. The report urges Congress to reinstate them after allowing them to expire last year. The Association of American Universities has also voiced its support of reinstating the programs.

The SBIR/STTR programs provide equity-free funding to technology-focused entrepreneurs across the nation who need help converting scientific discoveries into commercial products. Eleven federal agencies currently participate in the programs, which are administered by the Small Business Administration.

Reminder: Research Open Forum January 22

A final reminder that Betsy Boyd, senior associate vice president for Government and Community Relations; Val Whelan, assistant vice president for Sponsored Projects Services; and Kevin Reed, vice president and general counsel, will lead a research open forum Thursday, January 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. via Zoom. They will discuss federal appropriations, planning for potential changes to indirect cost return models, and advocacy for research.

Following the open forum for research December 1, we have updated our FAQs for Researchers webpage. A UO login is required to access this page.

Save the Date: Week of Research and Innovation

OVPRI will host “a week of research and innovation” from April 6–10 to recognize the excellence in research, scholarship, and innovation across campus, while providing a forum for faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars, and staff to learn about ongoing activities and explore opportunities for collaboration and partnership. By showcasing the breadth and impact of the UO’s research and innovation ecosystem, the initiative aims to inspire campus-wide energy, strengthen connections, and reinforce the university’s commitment to advancing knowledge and discovery.

Faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate. If you have programming planned for that week related to research, scholarship, and innovation, we’d be glad to amplify and build into our schedule. If you would like to co-sponsor a new activity or program, we are very open to new ideas. 

Please contact vpri@uoregon.edu if you are interested in pursuing either of these options.

Prior Emails

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