Big news this week is the government shutdown. We are in yet another difficult situation and the timeline for resolution is unknown. Of course, this hits during what’s already been an especially discouraging year for the research community.

You should have received guidance from your institution on how to proceed with activities related to active efforts. Research offices should also be able to provide guidance on your questions about specific programs or deadlines. What’s presented here today is general guidance – what I’ve said throughout the year: As much as possible, proceed as normal.

There are numerous deadlines with major funders in the next few weeks. As far as we know, those deadlines will hold. You should still submit proposals according to the instructions in hand. If this continues much longer, proposal processing and reviews will be delayed – but, eventually, they will be processed and reviewed.

Take a cue from dedicated civil servants in the federal government. When I was one and we were dealing with threats of shutdowns, I felt proud to work with my colleagues. While it was stressful not knowing what to expect, like if important travel, meetings, or events would be canceled, day-to-day we kept our focus on the work and on moving forward.

It’s understandably tempting to spend time commiserating or mentally playing out worst-case scenarios. But, generally, civil servants are dedicated to making each hour on the job productive and working toward the mission. Thus, I encourage you to adopt that mindset as much as possible. Getting caught up in the what-ifs and the hourly news cycle will only detract from the progress we want. My family experienced this from “the other side” this week:

Our daughter is part of a research study through National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. I’ve been diligent about submitting her sample cards and getting her to imaging appointments on schedule. I want to ensure that the PI has the data, and I’m anxious if we might miss something; I know how valuable data are.

But on Thursday morning we were notified her appointment had been canceled. The doctor had planned to follow up on imaging done one week before. Just one example of countless data points that, as taxpayers, we need and have paid for but are not getting.

Further, especially for those who have recently moved into new positions, it’s easy to feel frustrated that you’re moving into the next stage of your career at a bad time. After my husband and I finished graduate school, we had the 2008 economic crash. We were a young family then and that was a most discouraging period. But we survived.

Your career has been developing for years and will continue to grow. You can withstand this. Work toward your deadlines. If this continues, Wise Investigator will keep you updated in this newsletter by sharing ideas for what you can work on if opportunities are being canceled or deadlines moved. For now, take a deep breath and hang tight. While 2025 is proving to be a discouraging year, there’s still too much good within our research community to give up.

Further thoughts on the shutdown

In this video, I reiterate points made above, and provide some perspective on what you can expect from program officers and as related to active awards during this time. A cameo appearance is made by Cinnamon, who provides a calming presence. 🐶🐾

When you are ready, here’s how we can help

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