Federal Funding – Executive Actions and Federal Agency Guidance

The current administration issued executive orders that may change federal priorities, practice, and policy. These changes may impact existing awards as well as those in the proposal submission and development stages. ECU’s Office of Research is monitoring the dynamic landscape. This page is intended to provide principal investigators, research administrators, and campus leadership with guidance, updates, and links to relevant resources. It will be updated as needed.

Our research community is committed to expanding knowledge and discovery, allowing students to engage in high impact practices, like being part of research teams, and working with external partners to address the needs, challenges, and opportunities of the world around us.

The Office of Research is closely monitoring executive orders to understand their potential impact on our research. We are committed to working together with researchers, administrators, and other stakeholders to provide access to information and support for continued research endeavors.

Executive Actions and Federal Agency Guidance

Please note that additional links will be provided as they are made available by federal agencies and sponsors:

List of Agencies and Links to Executive Orders:

Proposals

  • We will continue to submit proposals as federal agency submission portals are operational.
  • Please note that sponsor timelines may change and/or be extended while federal agencies adapt to new rules, guidelines, and policies.
  • If you have questions, please reach out to Deborah Lundin, Director for Pre-Award Services.

What to do?

  • Continue to develop proposals and ready them for submission. Pre-award Hub staff and Sponsored Programs Officers are monitoring changes in proposal deadlines; however, it is recommended that principal investigators reconfirm due dates as well.
  • It is also important to reconfirm that the funding announcement has not been revised or postponed.
  • Consider signing up for alerts from the federal agency or sponsor.

Awards

Continue conducting research and creative activities! The terms and conditions of an executed award remain enforceable as long as an award is active. This includes the ability to invoice and receive reimbursement.  If there is a change to an award, the Office of Research will receive notice from the sponsor and will engage as appropriate at that point in the amendment request.

Changes and updates to research compliance requirements are likely. These may be implemented directly by a federal agency or sponsor or may require an amendment on a project-by-project basis. If you receive instructions from your program officer, please share these immediately with the Office of Research. Failure to comply with changes may jeopardize your funding so it is critical that the communication between principal investigators and the Office of Research is timely and clear. If you have questions, please reach out to Christiana Shoopman, Director for Research Integrity and Compliance or Neil Gilbird, Director for the University and Medical Center Institutional Review Board.

Changes to research award administration, including reporting requirements, is also likely. These may be implemented directly by a federal agency or sponsor or may require an amendment on a project-by-project basis. If you receive instructions from your program officer, please share these immediately with the Office of Research. Failure to comply with changes may jeopardize your funding so it is critical that the communication between principal investigators and the Office of Research is timely and clear. If you have questions, please reach out to Karen Mizelle, Director for Post-Award Services.

What to do?

  • Review your grant agreement to ensure you understand the terms, due dates, reporting requirements, and other conditions. Talk with the financial analyst who oversees your award if you have questions.
  • Closely monitor your budget to ensure that all obligations are being managed in a timely manner.
  • If you receive a stop work order, please contact the Office of Research immediately. Only costs through the date of receipt of the notice are typically reimbursable.
  • If you have any past due reports or other deliverables, prioritize those now.
  • Monitor policy updates including checking the for announcements on the Office of Research website.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Find more guidance under the frequently asked questions.