Regarding the Pause in Federal Grants, Loans, and Programs

January 28, 2025

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community:

By now, most of you are probably aware of the memo issued yesterday by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, “Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs.”

Unlike the more narrowly tailored executive orders of the previous week, which were largely focused on specific types of federal spending, this action is exceptionally broad and affects our university in many ways. However temporary it may turn out to be, in the short term it is highly disruptive and touches almost every aspect of the university’s activity.

I understand, therefore, the considerable anxiety many of you feel, both about the long-term implications of the review of federal programs ordered by the memo and the more immediate effects of its sudden suspension of federal funds disbursements. In conjunction with President Holloway’s team and in consultation with some of our colleagues at peer universities, we are doing everything we can to analyze the memo and its effects so that we can provide effective guidance, bearing in mind that the situation may evolve.

In a message to the Rutgers community earlier today, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer J. Michael Gower and Senior Vice President for Research Michael Zwick provided important guidance in two areas. I strongly encourage you to read it in full, but to summarize:

• Student Financial Aid: The university is committed to ensuring students’ uninterrupted academic journey, and as we learn more we will share information on ScarletHub.
• Faculty and Researchers: Send any stop-work orders or questions to federaltracking@rutgers.edu and we will respond with guidance. Prior to taking any action, seek guidance from your assigned grant specialist.

While there may be more questions than answers at this early stage, we will do our best to provide meaningful communications. Where appropriate, I also encourage you to consult supervisors, deans, and other leaders, bearing in mind that they too are working hard to gain a greater understanding of this difficult and fluid situation.

While these recent developments affect our work and studies within the university, they also affect our personal lives and mental health. Anxiety about financial hardship, career interruption, and immigration status, among other things, is real. I encourage all of you to reach out to each other and to take advantage of the various support services the university provides for students and for employees. 

As President Holloway said last Friday, “Rutgers is guided by its public mission of teaching, research, and service. It is imperative as we work to understand the reach, legality, and impact of new federal rules that we as the university leadership stay focused on our core mission, that we support our students’ educational journey, and that we work together with open lines of communication.”

Moving forward in meeting this latest challenge, we will indeed be guided by our mission and our values of honesty, transparency, and caring for each other. I pledge to you I will do everything I can to support our university, our people, and the communities we serve.

Sincerely,

Francine Conway, Ph.D.
Chancellor and Distinguished Professor
Rutgers University–New Brunswick