On Oct. 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government shut down due to a lapse in funding. Although a federal shutdown of any length can bring delays or disruptions in some areas, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) remains fully operational and our day-to-day work will continue.
To support the UMB community during this time, we have provided answers to frequently asked questions below. We continue to monitor the situation and will update this website as new information becomes available.
Research
Should I keep working on my federally funded research project?
During the shutdown, most federally funded research at UMB will continue, but there are some points to keep in mind. Please review the following for more information. If you have a question about an award, please contact Jill Frankenfield of Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA).
- Researchers should continue their work as usual unless notified otherwise by UMB’s SPA or the federal sponsor. If there is no reason to stop or pause work, Principal Investigators (PIs) should continue to meet all deadlines set forth in their awards and be able to submit annual and final project reports, as well as project outcomes reports, via eRA Commons, Research.gov., or other federal systems.
- Obligated budget balances should be closely monitored to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations.
- If UMB has not yet received the next increment of award funds, PIs must consult with their department chair or dean before continuing work. PIs must also consult with their department chair or dean before engaging in any major financial commitment (hiring, animal purchase, clinical trials, etc.). A dean’s approval to continue work or to procure for a grant signifies the dean’s willingness to absorb the risk of not being reimbursed.
- If a Stop Work Order is received, work must cease, and no expenses can be incurred. Please immediately forward such correspondence to Jill Frankenfield (SPA) and Laura Scarantino (Sponsored Projects Accounting and Compliance), copying your department chair and dean.
- If a federal agency’s guidelines differ from UMB’s guidelines, researchers must adhere to the agency’s guidelines. To better understand what might happen at the agency funding your award, the Council on Government Relations (COGR) has published a list of links to agency guidance on its website. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published a summary of activities that will and will not continue during the shutdown period.
Will agency payments be processed during the shutdown?
On Oct. 1, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued a statement that indicates Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) payments will continue to be processed for awards issued prior to the shutdown. However, if a notice of grant award included restrictive terms and conditions, or if a drawdown request triggers one of the DHHS Payment Management System edit checks and/or the drawdown limit controls, the University might not be able to draw down funds. Also, please keep in mind that due to reduced agency staffing, payments could be delayed, and it is not guaranteed that all agency payment systems will be available or processing requests. UMB will monitor the payment systems and address issues as they arise.
Will federal agencies issue new awards, modify existing awards, or issue extensions?
No. During the shutdown, federal agencies are prohibited from issuing new grants, contracts, amendments, continued funding increments, supplements, or no-cost time extensions requiring explicit prior federal awarding agency approval.
Will federal agencies continue to accept funding proposals?
Yes, based on past shutdowns, we expect most agency proposal portals to remain open. However, it is important to note that agency systems will only accept and store applications; applications will not be processed further until normal business operations are restored. Please note that during the shutdown, agency help desks might not be available.
Should I wait to submit a proposal if the deadline is during the shutdown?
No. Principal Investigators should continue to prepare proposals by the deadline set by the federal awarding agency unless notified otherwise. Please know that the proposal review process will be delayed. If agency portals are live, Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) will continue to process and submit new applications. If agency portals are offline, SPA will make submissions as soon as they reopen. Please note that during the shutdown, agency help desks might not be available.
Will federal agency staff be working?
Most federal agency staff will not be working. Inquiries about upcoming deadlines, applications, or actions requiring prior approval likely will go unanswered until the shutdown is resolved. Federal websites, business applications, and other systems might be unavailable or have limited functionality, including little or no support for problem resolution.
If you have planned meetings, travel, or conferences with federal funders or entities, make sure to check for postponements or changes beforehand.
What happens after the shutdown ends?
Once the shutdown ends, there will be delays as the federal government resumes operations.
I work at a federal facility. Should I report to work?
UMB personnel who are assigned work duties or have business meetings at federal facilities may not, in many cases, be allowed to enter the facilities. Required actions in such instances will need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Faculty working at a federal agency on an Intergovernmental Personnel Act agreement should immediately contact the agency to determine next steps.
Student Financial Aid
What happens to student financial aid at UMB during the federal government shutdown?
Federal student aid programs such as the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loan Programs, and Federal Work Study are considered mandatory appropriations that were funded by Congress last year. Our currently enrolled students have received their summer and fall disbursements, and the pending spring disbursements are calculated in our current funding levels for the 2025-2026 year. Aid offer notifications for spring 2026 admits will occur beginning Nov. 15, 2025. Federal student aid processing such as new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will experience a delay in processing. For graduates navigating loan repayment, a delay in processing is expected. Email questions to aidtalk@umaryland.edu.
Veterans’ processing is handled in each school. For a list of individual school contact persons, visit Resources for Student Veterans on the UMB Student Success, Leadership, and Engagement website.
What is the impact on veterans’ and active-duty service members’ education benefits and services?
GI Bill benefits for student veterans currently enrolled and certified should not be affected by a short-term government shutdown. Student veterans seeking to obtain their GI Bill benefits during or shortly after the shutdown may experience delays. As with other federal agencies, some Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees may be furloughed, and questions and requests for assistance from agency employees might go unanswered until the shutdown is resolved.
A government shutdown could severely disrupt or suspend federal tuition assistance (TA) for service members. Only Tuition Assistance Requests (TARS) with an Oct. 1 start date moving forward may be affected, until a budget or continuing resolution is approved. Thus, the impact largely depends on the duration of the shutdown. Soldiers whose TA requests are canceled due to the shutdown will receive a message in ArmyIgnitED or the My Education Portal.
For assistance with this or any other VA or service member benefit and a list of the VA certifying officers for each school, visit Resources for Student Veterans on the UMB Student Success, Leadership, and Engagement website.
What happens to student internships with federal agencies?
Students should contact their supervisor to determine how their work is affected by the shutdown. Students also should contact their internship coordinator at UMB to determine any effects on credits being earned.
Immigration Services
How will immigration services for international students, faculty, and staff at UMB be affected during the federal government shutdown?
Because many of the federal agencies that oversee immigration services are funded by fees, they often remain open during a government shutdown. Immigration agencies that will remain open include U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State (including embassies and consular services). Customs and Border Protection, which provides services at ports of entry by air and land and issues electronic I-94 cards, have remained open during previous government shutdowns.
While USCIS will usually continue to process H-1B, O-1, E-3, TN, F-1 OPT, and permanent residency applications, H-1B and E-3 applications may be delayed if the Department of Labor is closed during the government shutdown. The Department of Labor certifies Labor Condition Applications, which are required for H-1B and E-3 petitions, and adjudicates certain permanent residency filings (PERM applications). A shutdown may mean that the Department of Labor will neither accept nor process these filings.
For immigration services questions, email ois-info@umaryland.edu.
Federal Agency Appointments
What happens to faculty and staff working at federal agencies through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act?
Faculty and staff serving on appointments at federal agencies through the Intergovernmental Personnel Act may be exempt from a furlough during the government shutdown and should reach out to their federal point of contact for additional guidance.
Resources
For Students
Emergency Fund
This fund supplies emergency financial assistance to UMB students on a case-by-case basis. Funding is available for U.S. and international students.
Student Pantry
This free resource is available to all UMB students and postdocs, providing shelf-stable food and hygiene items. Students can “shop” online and pick up their order anonymously. No demonstration of need is required.
Student Counseling Center
The center provides free mental health support and referral services to all currently enrolled UMB students — part time or full time, in-person or remote.
For Employees
Employee Assistance Program
This program is designed to help UMB employees with 24/7 access to resources such as confidential counseling, legal support, and financial information.
State of Maryland
This webpage includes a message from Gov. Wes Moore and information on unemployment insurance, housing and utility resources, loan programs and other financial assistance, aid for veterans, and more.
Maryland Department of Labor
This webpage includes resources for Maryland workers in the areas of unemployment insurance, loan programs, recruitment events and job fairs, and more.