Federal Executive Orders Updates | Research Office

Updates on Federal Executive Orders and Research Activity

This webpage serves as a centralized location for information and updates on federal funding and executive orders relating to West Virginia University during the 2025 Trump Administration transition. Check back often for updates.

Summary

West Virginia University is closely monitoring recent federal-level executive orders and interpreting any potential scope and impact across the campus community.

On Jan. 29, the White House Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum rescinding a pause on federal funding assistance for grants and loans to colleges and universities. Questions remain surrounding future effects on funding, research and other activities.

University officials are in contact with agencies, elected leaders and other stakeholders while taking proactive steps to support the WVU mission and the campus community.

WVU remains steadfast in its commitment to faculty, staff, students and all those it serves and will provide updates on this page as it receives additional guidance from the relevant federal and state agencies and legislative bodies.

Messages from the Research Office

We know there is a great deal of confusion and concern about recent developments and the impact on federal awards. Today’s rescinding of OMB-25-13 should NOT be interpreted as a total reversal. Agencies are still under the obligations imposed by previous Executive Orders (EOs) and are required to evaluate their programs compliance with those EOs.

Your award is a contractual obligation between WVU and the funding agency, therefore WVU will act in response to agency directives and WVU is bound by the most recent agency directive.

If you have been issued a stop work order for your particular award, you must stop work and await further guidance from your agency. Do not assume it has been lifted by today’s news. Please share any such orders with OSP at OSP_Help@mail.wvu.edu.

If you have not been sent a stop work order, proceed as usual with the following exception.

DEIA activities––since agencies have provided blanket statements calling for the cessation of those activities––please honor those statements until directed otherwise.

WVU is in contact with many other universities who are all in uncharted territory, the above course of action is shared by most of our counterparts.

We are here to help as best we can. Please let us know if you have any questions and we’ll try our best to answer. You can reach us at OSP_Help@mail.wvu.edu.

A message from Vice President for Research Fred King and Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Paul Kreider

The Department of Health and Human Services has instituted a pause pending administrative review on public communications for HHS employees including grant announcements, press releases and publication of documents, to name a few.

West Virginia University is closely monitoring the situation and will provide any pertinent updates if it may affect research activities. For context, previous new federal administrations have issued similar directives during the transition process.

We believe this pause is temporary and anticipate activities could resume as soon as Feb. 1. Separately, HHS staff have been instructed to suspend all work-related travel immediately and indefinitely. There is some precedent for travel suspensions in past administrations.

For now, we encourage you to remain focused on the important work and research you are conducting. We will continue to be in touch with information as it becomes available. If you have questions or need assistance, please email OSP_Help@mail.wvu.edu or provost@mail.wvu.edu.

Stop Work Orders

Some WVU faculty members have received stop work orders through the Office of Sponsored Programs. Other agencies have also issued broad stop work orders. If you receive a stop work order or are subject to a stop work order, please halt activities and notify OSP at OSP_Help@mail.wvu.edu.

What To Do Now

Notice of Funding Opportunities: Previously open NOFOs could now be closed. We encourage you to check the status of a NOFO before continuing with your grant submission.
Review grant Notice of Awards and contracts: Ensure you understand the terms and conditions of your awards and contracts, especially clauses related to funding availability and reimbursement.
Monitor budgets: Closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future award notices.
Contact grants specialists: If the University receives notices or communications of changes affecting your award, the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) will notify you. If you receive a stop work order, comply with the order and notify OSP as soon as possible.
Reports and deliverables: Prioritize the submission of any technical reports or deliverables that might be past due and ensure that all future reports and deliverables are submitted on time.
Monitor policy updates: Keep an eye on announcements from the federal agency overseeing your grant for any updates on funding or compliance requirements.

Procurement Considerations

When engaging in procurement activities for federally funded projects, please consider the following:

If federal funding for procurement is still pending to WVU, and you have been approved for an Advanced Account, then consider postponing or canceling the procurement until the required funds are committed/received. If the procurement requires further consideration or resources from WVU, please contact your department administrator.
If an agreement is fully executed and thus the procurement is underway, review the terms and conditions of the agreement for cancellation provisions and upcoming payment milestones (most agreements written using University forms of contract will have “termination for convenience” language). If you have any questions, please contact the WVU Procurement, Payment, and Contracting Payment Services (PCPS) contact who assisted with the agreement.
If an agreement is still being negotiated, collaborate with your assigned contact to ensure the terms and conditions align with the current funding availability.
When obtaining quotes for a purchase of goods, request the country of origin be included and ensure the quote includes a validity period during which the vendor is committed to maintaining the quoted prices without alteration.
Exercise caution in procuring equipment, materials, or supplies for projects using currently obligated funds. You are encouraged to verify the availability of funds with your department and/or college administrator and stay informed about any policy changes that could impact your projects before acquiring any further goods or services.

Resources

View a full list of federal agencies and their contact information.

Contact Information

For more questions and guidance, please contact OSP_Help@mail.wvu.edu.