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Guidance Related to Potential Government Shutdown

By Duke Today Staff

Note: For ongoing updates and information related to the potential government shutdown, please visit the website of the Office of Government Relations: https://governmentrelations.duke.edu/government-shutdown-resources/

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Vice President of Public Affairs and Government Relations Michael Schoenfeld sent this message to the university administration on January 19:

Dear Colleagues,

The Duke Office of Government Relations is closely monitoring the budget negotiations in Washington to determine the implications of a possible federal government shutdown on Duke and its activities.  If such a shutdown takes place, it will begin midnight, January 20, 2018.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructs all federal agencies and congressional offices to prepare and periodically update contingency plans for internal use. OMB has released updated guidance to agencies on planning for operations in absence of appropriations, which you can find here:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/m-18-05-Final.pdf  The existing “OMB Agency Contingency Plans,” required by law to be updated every two years, are available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/agency-contingency-plans/.

Our Government Relations team in Durham and Washington, DC, will continue to watch for further developments and communications from the federal agencies, but it is possible that official guidance will not become available until after the shutdown takes place. As information is received, we will share it with members of the Duke community through Duke Today. In the meantime, if you have meetings or events planned with federal officials during the next few weeks or have time-sensitive business (i.e. deadlines), it is recommended that contingency plans be considered before the close of business on Friday, January 19, 2018.

With regard to federal funded sponsored research, a communication has been sent to all grant and business managers from University Finance. 

Here are the most critical elements:

  • Federal systems may not be available and/or not fully supported (e.g. GRANTS.GOV)
  • New awards will likely be held
  • Some federal contracts will be directly impacted and the Contracting Officer may direct you to stop all work; please be on the lookout for communication from your CO and forward to the applicable pre-award office and Nate Martinez-Wayman in the Office of Sponsored Programs.

Following are two publications from OMB and the Congressional Research Service (CRS) regarding federal government shutdowns for your reference.

Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects (CRS)


Section 124 – Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations (OMB)

This information has also been conveyed to department chairs and program directors. If you have further questions, I encourage you to contact Jim Luther or Melissa Vetterkind.