The letter, submitted on September 28, 2020, by the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) and several prominent academic and scientific organizations—including AAU, APLU, AAMC, ACE, and AAAS—addresses Margaret Weichert, Deputy Director of Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The signatories collectively represent leading research institutions responsible for the majority of federally funded research in the United States. They express gratitude for OMB's prior initiatives, specifically memorandums M-20-17 and M-20-26, which provided essential administrative and fiscal flexibilities to research organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures enabled institutions to maintain operations and salary continuity despite substantial disruptions.
The letter urgently requests that OMB extend or establish a process to quickly reinstate these flexibilities beyond the September 30, 2020 expiration, recommending at least a continuation into the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. The authors emphasize that, while some research activities have resumed, ongoing adaptations to the “pandemic normal”—including social distancing, shift scheduling, and restricted access—continue to impede full operations. Specific challenges persist for field research and for graduate students whose work remains delayed. The organizations argue that maintaining or rapidly reinstating OMB's flexibilities is crucial for ensuring continuity should future pandemic-related restrictions arise. The correspondence concludes with an offer of continued partnership and support during these extraordinary times.
