Clarity and Guidance About a Potential U.S. Government Shutdown

Dear Tufts community members, 

While Congress continues to have discussions regarding federal appropriations, a shutdown of the federal government seems imminent. We want to clarify the potential implications of such a shutdown for Tufts University and provide relevant guidance in areas that could be impacted by a disruption in federal government operations.

Each fiscal year, Congress must pass legislation to fund all federal agencies by September 30. Lawmakers often temporarily push that deadline back by extending agencies’ current funding levels in a “continuing resolution” so parties can continue negotiating. At this point, a continuing resolution has not been agreed upon. Unless one is passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president by midnight tonight, the federal government will enter a partial shutdown starting October 1.

If there is a shutdown, agencies may halt non-essential operations until a continuing resolution is passed. While continuing resolutions can provide temporary relief, prolonged inaction could impact university operations tied to federal funding.

Tufts University remains fully operational at this time, and we do not anticipate significant disruptions in the near term. However, we are actively monitoring the situation and will keep the community informed as new information becomes available. Below, you will find potential areas of impact and guidance to support our faculty, staff, and students during this period of uncertainty.

Federally Sponsored Research

• Research funded by existing federal awards should continue as normal, unless you receive a stop-work order or specific guidance from your funding agency.
• Each federal agency has its own procedures for managing a shutdown. It is critical that principal investigators and research administrators follow agency-specific guidance.
• New federal funding opportunities will not be released during the shutdown. Proposal submissions may still be accepted, but agencies will not review submissions or process awards until normal operations resume.
• Agency responses to inquiries, including those about proposals, may be delayed.
• Required award reports should continue to be submitted by their due dates. If agency systems are offline, document your submission attempt and resubmit once systems are available.
• Contact the Local Research Administrator within your school or the Office of the Vice Provost for Research for questions and support.

Federal Financial Aid

• Students receiving federal financial aid should not expect immediate disruptions. Tufts will work to ensure continuity of funding and will not penalize students for delays outside their control.
• Contact your school’s financial aid office for questions and support.

Immigration and International Services

• Most visa and immigration services (e.g., USCIS) are fee-funded and typically continue during shutdowns. However, delays may occur.
• Processing of Labor Conditions Applications (precursor to H1B petitions) may be interrupted and the PERM Process (part of the permanent residence petitions) may become further backlogged as these are processed through the Department of Labor.
• Contact Tufts International Center for questions and support.

Travel

• International travelers with valid passports and visas are unlikely to be affected.
• Air travel delays are expected due to unpaid TSA workers and air traffic controllers.
• Visa and passport services are expected to remain operational, since the federal agencies involved are funded by application fees rather than congressional appropriations.
• Ports of entry including sea, land, and air, are expected to stay open, with most immigration, border, and customs agents continuing to work.

Tufts University will continue to monitor the situation closely and will advise you of any impacts to university operations in the event of a prolonged government shutdown.

Thank you for continued work in support of our university during this time.

Sincerely,

Caroline Attardo Genco

Provost and Senior Vice President