The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) is preparing for its Virtual Membership Meeting scheduled for February 25-28, 2025, involving key leadership and committee updates reflecting a year-long planning effort. The agenda emphasizes ongoing advocacy, especially amid challenges brought by federal administration transitions and evolving compliance requirements. Committees, including Costing & Financial Compliance (CFC), Contracts & Grants Administration (CGA), Research Security & Intellectual Property (RSIP), and Research Ethics & Compliance (REC), presented reports on topical issues such as federal funding disruptions, administrative burdens, indirect cost rates, technology transfer, research security regulations, research misconduct, and personnel impacts from grant and contract terminations or suspensions. Notably, COGR has launched new educational resources and coordinated advocacy efforts to mitigate red tape and highlight the financial and operational consequences of federal policy changes, stop work orders, and funding pauses.
A detailed survey captured the impact of funding disruptions at member institutions, revealing widespread payment pauses, terminations, and suspension orders—primarily from agencies like NSF, USAID, HHS, and others. Such disruptions led institutions to bridge research funding gaps with their own resources, though most opted not to file formal objections. These interruptions affected researchers, students, and staff, with significant financial burdens and uncertainty. COGR’s committees also reviewed regulatory developments in costing policies, grant administration, technology transfer, research security (including CMMC 2.0 and export controls), and ethical compliance in the context of new federal rules. The meeting highlighted COGR’s ongoing commitment to supporting member institutions through advocacy, resource development, and collaboration with federal agencies and associations, while addressing the evolving landscape of federally funded research administration. The next COGR meeting is scheduled for June 5-6, 2025, in Washington D.C.
