Potential changes coming from the federal government
January 28, 2025
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
We are aware that many of you have questions about how the changes coming from the new administration in Washington, D.C., will affect your research, studies, and work at Yale. We want to assure you that we are actively working to understand the implications of any new policies, guidelines, and priorities, including the internal federal memorandum from yesterday that ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause grants and loans issued by the government.
The implementation of these changes will depend on interpretation by federal agencies and courts, so we do not have clear answers today on how this and other government actions will affect our university. However, based on guidance issued this afternoon by the Office of Management and Budget, this “pause” appears to be focused on specific programs mentioned in the memo and does not broadly affect grants or programs that provide direct benefits to individuals, such as Pell Grants and student loans.
Yale faculty, staff, and students should continue federally funded work except for cases where the university has received specific stop-work orders. In the meantime, we should all be mindful of the impact of university spending in light of these uncertainties.
Please know that we are focused on supporting our community and advocating for higher education and Yale. In recent days, we have continued to engage in discussions with legislators about the critical importance of the partnership between the federal government and institutions of higher education. This partnership has been essential in enhancing and extending lives, driving economic growth, enriching communities, and bolstering national competitiveness.
This week, we have asked faculty and staff on campus with expertise in federal funding, laws, and policies to focus on understanding the executive orders and announcements around specific areas that affect our students, faculty, and staff, as well as our research and teaching. We will communicate significant updates, including any changes that may be necessary to be compliant with evolving requirements, and you will also hear from deans and other campus leaders when they have news to share.
Our mission is to create, share, and preserve knowledge; to educate and inspire students; and to apply our discoveries to address the world’s greatest challenges. We are committed to navigating these times with a steadfast focus on advancing that mission and on supporting members of our community.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art
Scott Strobel
Provost
Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry
Potential changes coming from the federal government
Dear Members of the Yale Community,
We are aware that many of you have questions about how the changes coming from the new administration in Washington, D.C., will affect your research, studies, and work at Yale. We want to assure you that we are actively working to understand the implications of any new policies, guidelines, and priorities, including the internal federal memorandum from yesterday that ordered federal agencies to temporarily pause grants and loans issued by the government.
The implementation of these changes will depend on interpretation by federal agencies and courts, so we do not have clear answers today on how this and other government actions will affect our university. However, based on guidance issued this afternoon by the Office of Management and Budget, this “pause” appears to be focused on specific programs mentioned in the memo and does not broadly affect grants or programs that provide direct benefits to individuals, such as Pell Grants and student loans.
Yale faculty, staff, and students should continue federally funded work except for cases where the university has received specific stop-work orders. In the meantime, we should all be mindful of the impact of university spending in light of these uncertainties.
Please know that we are focused on supporting our community and advocating for higher education and Yale. In recent days, we have continued to engage in discussions with legislators about the critical importance of the partnership between the federal government and institutions of higher education. This partnership has been essential in enhancing and extending lives, driving economic growth, enriching communities, and bolstering national competitiveness.
This week, we have asked faculty and staff on campus with expertise in federal funding, laws, and policies to focus on understanding the executive orders and announcements around specific areas that affect our students, faculty, and staff, as well as our research and teaching. We will communicate significant updates, including any changes that may be necessary to be compliant with evolving requirements, and you will also hear from deans and other campus leaders when they have news to share.
Our mission is to create, share, and preserve knowledge; to educate and inspire students; and to apply our discoveries to address the world’s greatest challenges. We are committed to navigating these times with a steadfast focus on advancing that mission and on supporting members of our community.
Sincerely,
Maurie McInnis
President
Professor of the History of Art
Scott Strobel
Provost
Henry Ford II Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry