Updated: Jan. 30, 2025

The current administration has issued executive orders and other guidance that impact federal priorities, awarded projects, and impending funding from federal agencies or sponsors.

Virginia Tech will comply with all applicable laws and executive orders.

At this time, the full and precise impact of these executive orders remains unclear as agencies interpret these directives. Examples include reports of pauses of new grant and contract review and awards at several agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy.

Virginia Tech’s Office of Research and Innovation in coordination with university leadership will provide the research community with guidance, updates, and links to relevant resources.

The university community is encouraged to be alert and proactive as these changes unfold with a focus on actionable guidance.

Principal investigators are encouraged to monitor federal websites for changes in proposal deadlines, requirements, or other actions.

For questions, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Latest Updates

Jan. 29, 2025 | 3:56 p.m.

National Science Foundation's webpage NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders and Message to the NSF principal investigator community has been updated. See Agency-Specific Guidance below.

Jan. 29, 2025 | 2:40 p.m.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has rescinded the federal aid freeze (OMB Memorandum M-25-13 is rescinded). 

Jan. 29, 2025 | 9:02 a.m.

Message to the NSF principal investigator community. See Agency-Specific Guidance below.

Jan. 29, 2025 | 9:01 a.m.

The White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum on Jan. 27, 2025, that requires Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with these executive orders. This pause was subject to an injunction, and has been delayed to Feb. 3, 2025.

Proposals

The Office of Sponsored Programs will continue to submit proposals.

Be Proactive:

  • Principal investigators should reconfirm that the funding announcement has not been revised or postponed. If available, sign up for alerts from the federal agency or sponsor.
  • Sponsor proposal review timelines may be extended or updated. Double check deadlines.
  • For questions regarding the scope of activities under your proposal, reach out to the funding agency to have your questions addressed.

Awards

The Office of Sponsored Programs is receiving communications from federal agencies. They are reviewing agreements, terms, and conditions and working directly with the agency to revise contract clauses, if needed.

Be Proactive:

  • If you believe your program is impacted, communicate with the agency program or grant officer to confirm there are no changes to your award.
  • If your award contains diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility components, reach out to your program manager or technical point of contact.
  • If you receive a communication directly from an agency, do not stop work on the award until you have confirmed with your award grant manager in the Office of Sponsored Programs the purpose of the communication. Some agency memos are only advising recipients of changes to some of the agreement clauses and not terminating the award. Thus, it is important to provide the communication to the Office of Sponsored Programs so that we can advise.
  • Monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future instructions from the agency. Anticipated future funding remains subject to availability of funds and should not be considered guaranteed.
  • Prioritize the submission of any technical reports or deliverables that may be past due.

Agency-Specific Guidance

Virginia Tech has received messages from federal agencies with instructions for implementing executive orders. In some cases, the university has received instructions on specific awards; those messages are communicated with affected principal investigators. See these requirements below:

Message to the National Science Foundation (NSF) principal investigator community

Jan. 29, 2025

The NSF Implementation of Recent Executive Orders web page provides information regarding recent executive orders and their impact on the U.S. National Science Foundation community.

This page is being updated often; check back regularly for information.

NSF looks forward to working with the new administration to ensure long-term U.S. competitiveness in all fields of science and engineering for our economic and national security.

Work with your institutional research office to assist you in complying with the executive orders. You can also direct your questions through this webform.

Cease working and incurring costs for costs associated for diversity, equity, and inclusion community benefits plans and Justice40

Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a directive that recipients and subrecipients cease any activities, including contracted activities, and stop incurring costs associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and community benefit plan activities effective as of Jan. 27, 2025 for all DOE grants, cooperative agreements, loans, loan guarantees, cost sharing agreements, or other DOE funding of any kind. 

The DOE directive dated Jan. 27, 2025 suspends grant and contract  funding for:

  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and activities involving or relating to DEI objectives and principles; and
  • Community Benefits Plans (CBP); and
  • Justice40 requirements, conditions, or principles.

The DOE requires recipients of federal funds to “cease any activities, including contracted activities, and stop incurring costs associated with DEI and CBP activities effective” Jan. 27, 2025.

Abolishment of the Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research requirement

The Office of Science is immediately ending the requirement for Promoting Inclusive and Equitable Research (PIER) Plans in any proposal submitted to the Office of Science. All open solicitations have been or will be amended to remove the PIER Plan requirement and associated review criterion. For proposals that have already been submitted to the Office of Science, no action on the part of the applicant is required, but applicants will have the option to resubmit a new application with the removal of the PIER plan. Reviewers will not be asked to read or comment on PIER Plans. Selection decisions will not take into consideration the content of PIER Plans or any reviewer comments on PIER Plans.

For questions,  email questions@science.doe.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue work under your award unless you are notified by the Office of Sponsored Programs that work should be stopped. In some cases, work will not be stopped but may be re-scoped in response to recent executive orders.

Reach out to agency contacts for clarity on RFAs.