NEW: Federal Transition Updates for Researchers Webpage

The CU Anschutz Medical Campus leadership, the University of Colorado's federal relations team and legal counsel are working closely to monitor the transitions and to better understand the potential impacts on our research community. We are committed to updating the campus community as early and as often as possible whenever definitive changes can be communicated.

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Federal Transition Updates for Researchers

In January 2025, the federal government transitioned to new leadership in the White House and in Congress. The new administration has begun to implement new federal policies, regulations and executive orders, including some with the potential to impact research operations at higher educational institutions across the country.

The CU Anschutz Medical Campus leadership, the University of Colorado's federal relations team and legal counsel are working closely to monitor the transitions and to better understand the potential impacts on our research community.

In some cases, there is enough information for us to recommend specific actions. In other cases, we are still seeking additional clarity. We will continue to keep this site up to date with the most recent information for the CU Anschutz research community.

Continue to robustly pursue your research activities and our research mission.

Research activities not impacted by recent changes should continue without interruption.
Continue to submit grants using the most updated information from the program announcements or program officers to guide the development of your applications.
Check this website regularly for the latest updates, and reach out to us with any questions using this online form.

In some cases, we are aware of federal actions regarding research activities but are still seeking additional information or clarification to understand the implications for our research community. We are including some of these topics for your information here.

A temporary restraining order imposed by the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Jan. 31 states that federal agencies cannot “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel or terminate” any federal grants on the basis of the now-rescinded OMB memo from Jan. 27 or any recent executive orders. If you have received a stop work order, please notify our team as soon as possible so we can help you to determine whether it is affected by this restraining order.
The State of Colorado sent a communication on Jan. 30, 2025, urging caution related to federal flow though with federal funds on state grants. We are seeking additional clarification in order to be compliant.

Please send any direct communications that you receive from federal sponsors regarding grant changes, including stop work orders, new requests or attestation inquiries, directly to our team for our awareness and discussion. With the recent legal activity, we will need to review individual notifications on a case-by-case basis to determine what may be impacted by the current directives and restraining orders. You can contact us via this online form.

Communications from Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas Flaig, MD

In this latest communication, campus researchers are requested to continue to pursue research unless they have received specific directions to stop from a sponsor.

Any researchers who have received any direct communication from a federal sponsor related to their grants, including a stop work order, should contact our campus federal transition team to discuss.

Read the update to the research community.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memorandum titled "Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan and Other Financial Assistance Programs," as well as additional clarification, which was to go into effect on January 28, 2025, at 5 p.m. On January 28, a judge temporarily halted the federal funding freeze. On January 29, the memorandum was rescinded by OMB.

Read the update to the research community.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a broad range of temporary restrictions, effective immediately through February 1, affecting communications, study sections, travel and meetings, among other areas within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Read the campus update.

Frequently Asked Questions by CU Anschutz Researchers

Last updated 2/7/25

You should continue to work on your grants and funded research unless you have received specific instructions to stop from a federal sponsor. Please use caution when looking at long-term investments such as expensive equipment, as guidance may change in the coming weeks or months. If you are unsure, please submit an inquiry to our campus federal transition team through this online form, and our team will follow up with you.

If you received a letter to stop work order prior to February 3, 2025, these orders are currently temporarily suspended. The administration issued new guidance in response to the temporary restraining order granted on February 3 that federal agencies cannot “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel or terminate” any federal grants on the basis of the now-rescinded OMB memo from January 27 or any recent executive orders. This includes stop work orders issued to institutions as well as individual PIs on specific grants. However, it is still important that you let us know if you have received a stop work at any time, so we can review and confirm what may or may not be covered by the current restraining orders.

If you receive any attestation request from a federal sponsor, including but not limited to any attestation regarding DEI, gender ideology or gender affirming care, these inquiries are considered legal terms and conditions and require an institutional authority (AOR Authorized Organization Representative) to attest and submit on behalf of the University. This is typically done at the time of submission by the Office of Grants and Contracts.

If you receive an email from the NIH with a request for you to sign an attestation related to your proposal and/or award, please submit it to us via our online form as soon as possible and do not respond to NIH. We will work with NIH to provide the campus attestation as required by NIH policy.

Additional FAQs are available from the CU federal relations team. Please visit their website for more detailed information about federal actions and their impact on the broader CU system.

Recent CU Federal Transition Updates

Explore these archives for messages regarding the federal transition and how it affects our campus.

Federal Transition Update for Researchers | February 7, 2025
Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO) Federal Transition Update | February 5, 2025
CU Anschutz Federal Government Transition Update | February 3, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | February 3, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | February 1, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | January 31, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | January 29, 2025
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) Federal Agency Transition Update | January 29, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | January 28, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | January 24, 2025
Update on HHS Communications Freeze from CU Anschutz Leadership | January 23, 2025
Federal Government Transition Update | January 22, 2025

Media Requests

All media requests should be directed to Chris Sparks, Communications Coordinator, University Relations, at christopher.sparks@cu.edu.

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research

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NEW: Federal Transition Updates for Researchers Webpage

Federal Transition Updates for Researchers

Communications from Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas Flaig, MD

Frequently Asked Questions by CU Anschutz Researchers

Recent CU Federal Transition Updates

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NEW: Federal Transition Updates for Researchers Webpage

Federal Transition Updates for Researchers

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Communications from Vice Chancellor for Research Thomas Flaig, MD

Federal Agency Transition Update | February 7, 2025

Federal Agency Transition Update | January 29, 2025

Federal Agency Transition Update | January 23, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions by CU Anschutz Researchers

Should I keep working on my grants and contracts?

What should I do if I've received a stop order from a state or federal organization prior to February 3, 2025?

What should I do if I receive a stop work letter dated after February 3, 2025?

Whom should I contact with questions on federal grants?

Whom should I contact if I receive an attestation requiring signature from NIH or other federal sponsors?

Recent CU Federal Transition Updates

Questions? Documents to share?

University of Colorado Resources

Federal Agency Memos

External Updates & Resources

Media Requests

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research