U.S. Government Shutdown 2025: What it Means for SRCD Members
SRCD’s actions and what to do if you have a federal research grant
Last updated: October 7th, 2025
With the federal government still shut down, SRCD recognizes the uncertainty many of our members face as research projects and grant activities are disrupted. We remain committed to supporting our members, many of whom rely on federal grants and contracts to carry out their vital work.
What to do if you will be impacted
If you have a federal grant or contract, or if your work relies on coordination with federal programs, we strongly recommend you contact your program officer immediately to get more information about what resources and services may be interrupted because of a potential shutdown. If a shutdown occurs, federal staff will not be able to communicate with you, so it’s important to reach out to them early to get specific support.
Every shutdown is different, so we’ve prepared a memo that has more information about different possible scenarios and resource links.
Federal Agencies Contingency Plans
Federal agency contingency plan is a document that outlines how a federal agency will operate during a lapse in appropriations, in other words, during a federal government shutdown. These plans typically include procedures for orderly shutdowns, details on how the agency will communicate with employees, the public and other interested parties, as well as budget justifications.
See below contingency plans for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF):
Memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
It has been reported that the OMB has circulated a memo that directs federal agencies to prepare not only for furloughs during a lapse in appropriations, but also to consider issuing Reduction in Force (RIF) notices for employees in programs that rely solely on discretionary funding and are not covered by mandatory appropriations. This represents a significant escalation from past shutdown planning, raising concerns about long-term disruption to federal research programs and the stability of the scientific workforce. Programs without protected funding—such as research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), Head Start centers with grants set to renew on October 1st, and national education data collections at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), to name a few—are especially vulnerable to these disruptions.
SRCD Advocates for our Members
SRCD has been working hard to ensure that the critical science that our members do is funded in Congress. We have met with over 75 Congressional offices and appropriations committee staff to highlight the importance of research funding. SRCD members have flown to D.C. to share their stories and SRCD staff work in coalition with dozens of scientific societies to amplify our voices.
We have also signed on to eight letters to the U.S. Congress to request much needed investments on science-based programs that would increase research capacity and expand on existing projects.
However, there is still much to do! U.S. federal government shutdowns have a negative effect on the economy, and it’s our children and underserved members of our communities who suffer the most. Alongside rising child poverty rates, millions of children and their families now face the uncertainty of not having federal safety nets that provide shelter, food, and basic services. We know how impactful child poverty and insecurity can be on child development. SRCD stands ready to support our members and advocate to Congress if a shutdown occurs.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please make sure to visit our website for more information and to follow our social media channels for updates.