Dear Colleagues,
Negotiations between congressional leaders to avert a government shutdown remain ongoing. The University of California (UC) is hopeful and continues to urge the administration and Congress to reach a final deal on fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding that provides critical investments in UC priorities. As of this afternoon, none of the 12 FY 2024 appropriations bills have been signed into law. Without passage of the bills or a continuing resolution, all or portions of the federal government will shut down on October 1, 2023, the start of the 2024 federal fiscal year. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide more information to our entire campus community, including research labs and health centers, as it becomes available.
If a short federal government shutdown occurs, we expect it to have limited, if any, immediate impact on our educational mission (including the federal financial aid provided to our students), the continuity of most research, and the health care we provide. There is no precedent for a prolonged shutdown, however, so we will continue to keep a close watch on the developments of this issue.
Research Continuity
Federal agencies will be prohibited from issuing new grants/contracts, and federal staff may not be working.
Most research activities will continue throughout the shutdown without interruption, and all award deadlines should be met. Research administrative functions on existing awards may be impacted differently for each agency but should continue as normal unless instructed otherwise. Contingency plans are in place to cover government-sponsored research funding and the salary of impacted research staff until further notice.
A limited number of individuals who have access to labs requiring a security clearance will be immediately impacted. These facilities will be subject to closure and will not be accessible until the government reopens. Please note that personal belongings, such as laptops without security information that are inside secure facilities, should be removed in advance of October 1, 2023. Additional guidance from specific agencies will be provided in the coming days.
NOTE: Researchers may receive additional instructions directly from federal contracting or program officers. If you receive such information, please notify your contract and grant officer immediately. For more information, email researchadmin@ucsd.edu.
Thank you for your continued patience as we respond to this evolving situation. We plan to continue proactively communicating with you throughout this situation, and more information will be posted to the UC San Diego Updates site in the coming days.
Sincerely,
