Federal Research Funding
Recent Updates

July 23, 2025
JORA website

This website will stay live but will no longer post updates.   Please refer to the main JORA website for resources including training and announcements.

April 29, 2025
On April 21, the NIH issued a new Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award.

The Notice requires  the following certification for recipients of new, renewal, supplement, or continuation awards that are issued on or after the date of the Notice (April 21, 2025). 

“By accepting the grant award, recipients are certifying that: (i) They do not, and will not during the term of this financial assistance award, operate any programs that advance or promote DEI, DEIA, or discriminatory equity ideology in violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws; and (ii) They do not engage in and will not during the term of this award engage in, a discriminatory prohibited boycott.”

Please continue to share any notices, direction, or requests for certifications that you receive from federal funding agencies with JORA and coordinate with JORA before responding.

April 17, 2025
On April 16, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Energy from implementing DOE Policy Flash: Adjusting Department of Energy Grant Policy for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) (the “Rate Cap Policy”), under which the DOE established a standardized 15 percent indirect cost rate for all grant awards to IHEs. The TRO also prohibits DOE from terminating any grants pursuant to the Rate Cap Policy or based on a grantee’s refusal to accept an indirect cost rate less than their negotiated rate.

The plaintiffs in the case are the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and a number of research universities. Georgetown is a member institution of ACE.

April 14, 2025

On April 11, the federal government announced that U.S. Department of Energy research grants to colleges and universities would have a 15% cap on Facilities and Administrative (F&A) spending.

The American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and a number of research universities have filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to halt the cuts. Georgetown is a member institution of ACE.

April 10, 2025

On April 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts has entered a permanent injunction precluding the National Institutes of Health from implementing a rate cut to the Facilities and Administrative (F&A) spending, capping it at 15%. This NIH is appealing the decision.

April 7, 2025
On April 3, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order halting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from terminating $11 billion in public health grants appropriated by Congress to fund various public health programs. The action applies only to the plaintiffs in the case, which includes the District of Columbia.

March 27, 2025

The NIH has posted the following information on its website: 

“NIH Grants and Funding Information Status
NIH grants and funding policies and processes are evolving as NIH aligns with new agency priorities. Keep on top of the latest status of changes impacting NIH grants administration and funding. It is updated as new information becomes available; check back regularly for updated information.” 

Topics included on the page: communications, applications, review, awards and reporting.

March 26, 2025
The NIH has posted a webpage described as “a central location where you can learn more about the status of changes impacting NIH grants process and plans for implementing new initiatives and policies.”

March 17, 2025

On March 14, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay of the nationwide preliminary injunction in Nat’l Ass’n of Diversity Officers in Higher Educ. v. Trump. The preliminary injunction, issued by the U.S. District Court of the District of Maryland, had enjoined the entire federal government from implementing the requirements of EO 14151 and 14173, focused on ending "DEI" programs and activities connected to federal grants and contracts.  

PI’s: Please continue to share any notices, direction, or requests for certifications related to these Executive Order that you receive from federal funding agencies with JORA and coordinate with JORA before responding.

March 12, 2025
On March 10, the District Court of the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the Department of State, USAID, and OMB “from unlawfully impounding congressionally appropriated foreign aid funds” by giving effect to any terminations, suspensions, or stop-work orders issued between January 20, 2025, and February 13, 2025, for any grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts for foreign assistance.

March 11, 2025
On March 6, the District Court of the District of Rhode Island has issued a preliminary injunction precluding the agency defendants from “pausing, freezing, blocking, canceling, terminating  suspending, terminating, or otherwise impeding the disbursement of appropriated federal funds to the States under awarded grants, executed contracts, or other executed financial obligations” based on the OMB Memo, Executive Orders issued prior to the OMB Memo, or any similar order applying a categorical freeze or pause. This injunction is the second by a federal court blocking implementation of the funding freeze. (See the February 25, preliminary injunction by the District Court of the District of Columbia, described below).

March 11, 2025

On February 25, 2025, the District Court of the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and through it those agencies providing federal funding assistance, from implementing, giving effect to, or reinstating under a different name the blanket freeze on disbursement of Federal funds.

PI’s: Please continue to share any notices you receive from federal funding agencies with JORA.

“Preliminary injunction” - A preliminary injunction is a temporary court order that prevents a party from taking certain actions while a case is pending.

March 5, 2025 

On March 5, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated its administrative stay of the District Court's order enforcing compliance with a temporary restraining order [add link] that halted the government’s (State and USAID) suspension of congressionally appropriated federal aid.  The Court notes that the District Court should clarify what obligations the Government must fulfill to ensure compliance with the temporary restraining order

March 5, 2025
On March 5, 2025, the District Court of the District of Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction blocking the National Institutes of Health from capping Facilities and Administrative (F&A) spending at 15%. 

February 27, 2025

On February 26, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an administrative stay of an order by the District Court of the District of Columbia that required the the U.S. Government resume payment of foreign aid under awards and contracts by the Department of State and USAID by 11:59 on February 26, 2025. The administrative stay is temporary until the Court can hear arguments in the matter.

PI’s, please continue to share any notices you receive from federal funding agencies with JORA.

February 23, 2025
On Feb. 21, a U.S. District judge granted a preliminary injunction that precludes the Trump administration from freezing or terminating grants/awards based on, or conditioning funding on, certification of compliance with the Executive Orders focused on DEI. We are reviewing the information and will provide further instructions to affected PIs if necessary.

February 21, 2025
On Feb. 21, a U.S. District judge extended the temporary restraining order blocking the National Institutes of Health 15% cap on Facilities and Administrative (F&A) spending. A preliminary injunction will be considered by the judge in the near future.

February 21, 2025
After a pause in the receipt of Notice of Awards, JORA reports receiving two non-competing continuation grant notices on Feb. 20 – an F30 and an R21.

February 21, 2025
On February 20, a U.S. District judge reinforced a temporary restraining order against the halting of federal aid by the U.S. Department of State/USAID.

February 19, 2025
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has posted a press release titled HHS Takes Action on President Trump’s Executive Orders Defending Women and Children. Included in the press release: “HHS’ Office on Women’s Health launched a webpage to promote guidance on sex-based definitions and other resources on efforts to protect women and children.”

February 15, 2025
JORA has received a "Special Notice to Foreign Assistance Recipients" from the Department of State.  

We are reviewing the information and will provide further instructions to affected PIs if necessary.

February 12, 2025

JORA has received amendments to CDC Notice of Grant Awards that read (sample):

In compliance with the Temporary Restraining Order issued on January 31, 2025, in the United States District Court in the District of Rhode Island, Notices of Award (NOAs) issued between January 24 and February 11, 2025, that instructed termination, ceasing, suspending, or limiting of activities under this award consistent with Administration Executive Orders are officially rescinded.  Activities under this award are no longer terminated, ceased, or suspended.  All other existing terms and conditions are still in effect. 

We are reviewing the amendment(s) and will provide further instructions to affected PIs if necessary.