COGR has prepared a list of items research institutions should consider in the event of a federal government shutdown to manage federally sponsored projects. This is not official guidance but rather an accumulation of past shutdown experiences with information and guidance that has been received to date. This list will be updated as more information is available.
Considerations for a Federal Government Shutdown (September 24, 2025)
COGR Statement on LinkedIn Regarding the Federal Government Shutdown (October 1, 2025)
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Agency Guidance:
- OMB: Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations (9/30/25)
- FY 2026 DHHS Contingency Staffing Plan for Operations
- NIH Contigency Guidance
- NSF: Assistance and Contract-Related Policy and Systems Issues During a Lapse in Appropriations
- FDA Contigency Guidance
- CDC Contingency Guidance
- DoD: CONTINGENCY PLAN GUIDANCE FOR CONTINUATION OF OPERATIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS
- DOE: Operating in the Event of a Lapse of Appropriations (12/2024)
- NASA: Shutdown furlough guidance
- DHS: Lapse in Funding Guidance
- DoL: PLAN FOR THE CONTINUATION OF LIMITED ACTIVITIES DURING A LAPSE IN APPROPRIATIONS
- U.S. Department of Education Contingency Plan for Lapse in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations
- DoT: Plans for Operations During a Lapse in Annual Appropriations By Operating Administration
- EPA: US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR SHUTDOWN
- DOJ: U.S. Department of Justice FY 2026 Contingency Plan
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Lapse in Funding Plans
- Commerce: Lapse in Appropriations Contingency Plans
- DoS: Updated Guidance on Operations During a Lapse in Appropriations
- DoI: Operations in the Absence of Appropriations
- Department of the Army: Operations inLapse of Appropriations Guidance
- Department of Treasury: Lapse in Appropriations Contingency Plan
- Veterans Affairs: Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations
- SSA: Lapse in Appropriations Plan
- GSA Operations in the Absence of Appropriations
Other Guidance & Resources:
- Agency Contigency Plans (White House Website)
- Government Shutdown Advisory: Summary of Possible Lapse in Appropriations (Holland & Knight, September 29, 2025)
- Common Questions—and Answers—About A Government Shutdown (Crowell, September 30, 2025)
- Government Shutdowns and Executive Branch Operations: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Special Instructions for Agencies Affected by a Possible Lapse in Appropriations Starting on October 1, 2025 (OPM)
- Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources (Congressional Research Service) (December 2024)
- Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects (Congressional Research Service) (December 2018)
Archived Resources:
- Agency Contingency Plans (Biden White House Archives)
- Frequently Asked Questions During a Lapse in Appropriations (Last update: September 27, 2023, Biden White House Archives)
News Articles:
- Government to shut down after midnight barring last minute breakthrough in Congress (NPR, 9/30/25)
- OMB says agency contingency plans will only be available on each agency website (Federal News Network, 9/29/25)
- White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown (Politico, 9/24/25)
- Days away from a government shutdown, agencies’ contingency plans still unclear (Federal News Network, 9/24/25)
- How federal agencies will handle a government shutdown under Trump remains to be seen (CNN, 9/23/25)
- As US government shutdown nears, Trump administration mum on contingency plans (Reuters, 9/23/25)
- As shutdown looms, federal agencies have no public plans for one (Government Executive, 9/22/25)
