Sep 26, 2023
Dear campus community,
As many of you are aware, federal lawmakers have until midnight on September 30, 2023, to pass funding legislation. Should they fail to do so, parts of the federal government are expected to shut down on October 1, 2023. Please know that we, along with the UC Office of the President and other UC campuses, are assessing the developments as they unfold.
Our primary focus is making sure our community is as prepared as possible to ensure continuity of research and campus operations, especially if the shutdown stretches over an extended period of time.
Minimal Impact Expected for First 30 Days
The impact to UCI will depend on how long the federal government is shut down as well as guidance from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and the federal agencies affected. It is anticipated that the campus will maintain normal operations if the shutdown lasts fewer than 30 days. UCI has convened a task force to identify potential impacts and recommend actions required to manage changing conditions.
Research
For the first 30 days, research is projected to be mostly unaffected. However, this outlook may change depending on the length of the shutdown. Funds from research grants or agencies that have already been awarded will stay intact.
Agencies that are not funded during the shutdown may not be able to issue new contracts or grants or renew existing projects. Federal agencies will not issue new awards or award amendments, including approving no cost extensions that explicitly require federal agency approval. No cost extension requests that can be approved by the Sponsored Projects Administration will be approved locally.
Federal proposal submission systems will remain operational. Please expect that proposal deadlines will remain in effect unless otherwise stated in a federal agency's shutdown guidance. Also note that agency reviews of proposals will be delayed.
Financial Aid
Limited, if any, immediate impact is expected for educational services and financial aid programs. If the shutdown extends beyond 30 days, these services and programs are expected to be impacted. The extent of the impact will be determined as the situation progresses.
We will continue to share new information with those affected as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
Hal Stern
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Chancellor's Professor, Department of Statistics
Pramod Khargonekar
Vice Chancellor for Research
Distinguished Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science