Updates as of Jan. 30, 2025
Please see these updates regarding the recent Executive Orders issued by the new presidential administration. Also included you will find information on stop work orders, guidance for moving ahead and FAQs.
Dear Research Community,
Please see the updates below regarding the recent Executive Orders issued by the new presidential administration. Also included you will find information on stop work orders, guidance for moving ahead and FAQs. Updates will be posted on the Division of Research webpage: Executive Orders – Division of Research. Please visit it often for update.
Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan and Other Financial Assistance
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum M25-13, on January 27, 2025, requiring Federal agencies to identify and review all Federal financial assistance programs and supporting activities consistent with the President’s policies and requirements to align with recently issued Executive Orders. To implement these orders, each agency must complete a comprehensive analysis of all their Federal financial assistance programs to identify programs, projects, and activities that may be implicated by any of the President’s executive orders. In the interim, to the extent permissible under applicable law, Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.
At this time work may continue on research projects, unless a Stop Worker Order is received from the federal funding agency, specific to the project.
Stop Work Orders (SWO)
Project specific SWO
Sponsored Research Services (SRS) and Researchers are receiving stop work orders from multiple sponsors for specific projects currently. If a SWO has been received by SRS, SRS will send out an email to alert the Principal Investigator (PI), Department Head, Research Dean and Financial Contact. If a SWO is received, all work must cease, and no further expenses or conduct should be done under the award. This includes project planning, implementation, travel, logistics, or any other expenses or activities under the award, until further communication or directive is received from the funding agency. If SRS receives notification of this type of SWO for certain activities under the awards, SRS will notify the PI, Department Head, Research Dean and Financial Contact of such directive. If a PI receives a SWO directly from the funding agency, please forward to to awards@tamu.edu immediately.
Unilateral SWO
SRS and Researchers are receiving unilateral stop work orders from sponsors stating to cease and desist all activities (under certain Executive Orders, such as: “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” “Unleashing American Energy,” “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs” and “Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions”) required of their contracts or grants. Grantees shall notify their Contracting Officer or Grant Officer if they identify requirements within their contracts or grants that are in violation of recently released Executive Orders. If a PI receives a unilateral SWO directly from the funding agency, please forward to to awards@tamu.edu immediately. Discussions surrounding DEI, including how to define and identify, are ongoing. Additional guidance and a point of contact for this topic will be shared as soon as possible.
Guidance for Moving Forward
- If SRS receives a Stop Work Order from a federal funding agency, the PI, Department Head, Research Dean and financial contact will receive notification from SRS.
- If a PI receives a SWO, please forward to SRS at AWARDS@TAMU.EDU
Proposal Questions
Many federal agencies are removing solicitations to ensure they are compliant with the Executive Orders. SRS will continue to submit proposals as the federal agencies submission systems are operational and the RFP has not been removed.
There may be changes to proposal deadlines. It is recommended to confirm the deadline with your SRS proposal administrator.
Award Management Questions
Hiring of personnel on projects should be done in close consultation or coordination with your Human Resources (HR) liaison.
Current awards that have received SWOs are under review. This is evolving; additional guidance from Member leadership and HR will be provided to those affected soon.
Per the SWO, all work must cease, and no further expenses or conduct should be done under the award. This includes project planning, implementation, travel, logistics or any other expenses or activities under the award.
If a SWO is received from the prime funding agency, SRS is notifying subawardees via email communication that work must cease. SRS is not issuing formal amendments to the subawardees until further communication is received from the federal agency as to the trajectory of the project.
Under the Executive Order Review by Federal Agencies, subawardee invoices will be processed for work completed.
No, most federally funded sponsored projects are awarded as cost reimbursable. SRS may only invoice or draw funds from the federal agencies for expenses that have been incurred. Any expenses incurred within the scope of the award and covered by obligated funds will be reimbursed. Future expenses cannot be drawn from the federal sponsor.
If funding is obligated:
- If you are able to secure equipment, materials or supplies for your project using your currently obligated funds, you are encouraged to proceed with doing so.
- Continue to verify the availability of funds and stay informed about any policy changes that could impact your projects.
- If a procurement is in process, review the terms and conditions of the vendor agreement for cancellation provisions and upcoming payment milestones. If you have any questions, please contact Texas A&M Procurement.
- If a procurement agreement is being negotiated, collaborate with your Texas A&M Contracting Officer to ensure the terms and conditions align with the current funding availability.
- When obtaining quotes for a procurement, request that the country of origin be included and ensure the quote includes a validity period during which the vendor is committed to maintaining the quoted prices without alteration.
What You Need to Do
Events/Meetings
If an event has been scheduled but can no longer proceed, promptly notify all relevant stakeholders, including participants, speakers and organizers about the cancellation or postponement.
Funding Adjustments
Programs may face restructuring, delays or defunding. Guidance will be shared when available.
Reporting
Changes to reporting requirements may occur. Respond promptly to instructions from your Program Officer.
Grants Management
- Communicate questions or concerns to:
- Kristi Billinger, Associate Vice President for Research and Executive Director, Sponsored Research Services, Division of Research, kristib@tamu.edu
- Crissy Stratta, Associate Executive Director, Sponsored Research Services, Division of Research, cstratta@tamu.edu
- Monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits.
- Communicate with your Grant Officer to confirm any changes.
- Submit overdue reports and deliverables promptly.
- Consult with your SRS project administrator for guidance on travel, as federal agencies may suspend travel plans.
Federal Agency Updates
The Division of Research and Sponsored Research Services are monitoring new guidance issued by federal agencies that fund research at Texas A&M University System. Relevant documents and resources will be posted as they become available. Members of the research community who receive memos or announcements not posted on this page can email them to awards@tamu.edu.