A federal government shutdown, which began October 1, has led to a widespread suspension of scientific research and services across the United States. The shutdown, which commenced at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, has forced federal agencies to furlough a significant portion of their staff, halt new research grants, and pause many ongoing projects. While research projects that have already received federal funding are expected to see minimal short-term impact, the long-term consequences of a prolonged shutdown could be severe, creating backlogs and potential funding gaps in ongoing scientific endeavors.
The immediate effects of the funding lapse are being felt across the scientific community, with researchers unable to apply for new federal grants, renew existing projects, or receive technical assistance on pending applications. The shutdown stalls the competitive innovation pipeline, which is fundamentally sustained by the contributions of science and scientists. The longer the shutdown continues, the more U.S. research projects will face delays, funding interruptions, and uncertainty, with the potential for cascading effects that include regulatory delays and research slowdowns.
Impact on Major Research Agencies
The shutdown has had a significant impact on the day-to-day operations of the nation’s leading scientific agencies. The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have both been forced to suspend most of their activities, including the awarding of new grants. While the NSF will continue to accept applications, no new research grants will be issued, and review panels scheduled after September 30 have been canceled.
National Institutes of Health
At the NIH, a contingency plan has been put in place to ensure the continuation of operations at its biomedical research hospital, the NIH Clinical Center, to maintain the safety and care of its patients. However, only about a quarter of NIH staff are being retained for ongoing work. All NIH grant peer review meetings, advisory council meetings, and the issuance of new awards have been halted. Additionally, basic research conducted by NIH scientists, training for graduate and postdoctoral students at NIH centers, and scientific meetings at NIH facilities have all been stopped.
National Science Foundation
The NSF, which almost entirely funds extramural research, has also been significantly affected. While work can continue on any awards that still have funds available and do not need intervention from federal staff, the agency will not issue new solicitations, review grant applications, or award new grants during the shutdown. Researchers are still permitted to conduct ad hoc reviews, but review panels will be rescheduled.
NASA’s Operations Grounded
The nation’s space agency, NASA, has also been severely impacted by the shutdown, furloughing approximately 15,000 of its 18,218 civil servants. The agency has paused most of its operations, with only “excepted” activities permitted to continue. The vast majority of the agency’s work, including educational support, public access to NASA centers, and most research activities, has been suspended.
Exceptions for Critical Missions
Despite the widespread shutdown of its operations, NASA will continue to support three major operations: the International Space Station (ISS), satellite operations, and the development of the Artemis program. Work related to Artemis II, which will send astronauts around the moon, and Artemis III, which plans to land astronauts on the Moon in 2027, will continue as usual. The agency will also continue operating the ISS to protect the crew on board and the station itself, and will continue work with any satellites currently operating in space to ensure their safety and the integrity of their data.
Consequences for University Research
Universities and other higher education institutions are also feeling the effects of the shutdown. While most federally-funded projects that are grants can continue as planned, a small number of federally-funded projects are contracts, and a stop work order may be issued by contract funders. Administrative processes related to federal funding are on hold, and federal agency program officers and grants management staff are not available to answer questions or approve requests.
Disruptions to the Academic Community
The shutdown is also causing disruptions for international students, visiting scholars, and new faculty hires, who may experience delays in visa processing. For those planning to submit proposals, institutions are recommending that they continue preparation and internal submission, with the sponsoring programs team working with investigators to file at the appropriate time. However, new funding opportunities will not be issued, panel reviews could be postponed, and no new grants or no-cost extensions will be awarded.
Long-Term Scientific Repercussions
The long-term consequences of a prolonged government shutdown on the scientific community could be severe. Past shutdowns have led to cancellations of reserved time on national lab instruments, closures of field research sites on federal lands, and delays in international collaborations and contract renewals. The longer a shutdown continues, the greater the potential for cascading effects, including regulatory delays, research slowdowns, grant processing backlogs, and limited access to key support systems.
A Ripple Effect Through the Research Ecosystem
The impacts of a government shutdown often linger even after funding is restored. Returning employees need to address the various issues that piled up during the shutdown while also managing their regular responsibilities. For scientists, the ripple effects of the government shutdown are still spreading. The closure will hamper many researchers’ abilities to apply for new grants and additional time at national facilities, which is only awarded twice a year, and to publish scientific papers. The disruption has created a range of problems, from the personal to the professional, the economic to the intellectual, with many researchers having to absorb hundreds of dollars in travel expenses for trips that never happened.
Broader Economic and Societal Impacts
Beyond the immediate scientific community, the government shutdown has broader economic and societal impacts. A government shutdown stalls the competitive innovation pipeline, which is fundamentally sustained by the contributions of science and scientists. The shutdown threatens to grind America’s science and technology enterprise to a halt, with critical NASA missions with national security implications potentially being delayed, and cutting-edge research being stalled. The ability to prepare for extreme weather events and improve forecasting could also suffer, leaving Americans more vulnerable.
A Call for a Swift Resolution
Scientific organizations and leaders are calling for an urgent bipartisan solution from Congress to end the shutdown. The American Physical Society has urged its members to contact their elected officials to come to an agreement to fund the fiscal year and immediately reopen the government. The longer the shutdown continues, the more U.S. research projects will face delays, funding interruptions, and uncertainty, with damage that will ripple far outside the physics communities.