December 20, 12 p.m.
The Duke Office of Government Relations (OGR) is closely monitoring the budget negotiations in Washington to determine the implications of a possible federal government shutdown on Duke and its activities. If such a shutdown takes place, it will begin at 12:01 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
OGR will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the Duke community on this blog page as further information becomes available.
December 20, 7:30 p.m.
HOUSE PASSES CR BEFORE SHUTDOWN–WHAT TO KNOW
The House has passed a continuing resolution (CR) this evening in an attempt to prevent a federal government shutdown before midnight tonight. The package pushes funding to March and passed 366-34 with significant bipartisan support. At the time of this writing, it is unclear whether the Senate will take up the bill this evening or not, which will determine whether or not a shutdown will be averted. Should a shutdown occur, it remains unclear how long that would last–whether it is just for the weekend or longer. The Office of Government Relations (OGR) has an active blog that will be updated as more information becomes available. The blog also has the most recent updates from Duke Health Government Relations and the Office of Research and Innovation, along with a list of resources. We anticipate sending more updates as Congress continues this process.
December 20, 1:15 p.m.
TO: Vice Presidents, Vice Provosts, Deans, Directors, Department Heads and Managers FROM: Chris Simmons, Vice President for Government Relations
The Duke Office of Government Relations (OGR) is closely monitoring the budget negotiations in Washington to determine the implications of a possible federal government shutdown on Duke and its activities. If such a shutdown takes place, it will begin at 12:01 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) instructs all federal agencies and congressional offices to prepare and periodically update contingency plans for internal use. The existing “OMB Agency Contingency Plans,” required by law to be updated every two years, are available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/agency-contingency-plans/
The OGR is working in close coordination with several key offices, including the Office for Research and Innovation and University Finance, to ensure updates are provided to the Duke community and contingencies are in place should a shutdown occur. We will continue to watch for further developments and communications from the federal agencies, but it is possible that official guidance will not become available until after the shutdown takes place. As information is received, it will be shared through Duke Today, the Office of Government Relations blog and myRESEARCHpath.
In the meantime, if you have meetings or events planned with federal officials either in Washington, D.C. or on campus during the next few weeks, it is recommended that alternative plans be considered.
Following are two publications from OMB and the American Council on Education (ACE) regarding federal government shutdowns that might provide useful background.
Section 124 – Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations (OMB)
Government Shutdowns and Higher Education (ACE)
Below are some additional resources that will be helpful if a shutdown occurs:
From Duke University on Research Projects:
https://myresearchpath.duke.edu/impact-federal-government-shutdown-academic-research
From the American Immigration Lawyers Association:
https://www.aila.org/advo-media/aila-practice-pointers-and-alerts/government-shuts-down
OGR will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the Duke community as further information becomes available.
December 20, 1:30 p.m.
FROM: Jennifer Lodge, PhD. Vice President for Research & Innovation
We are closely monitoring fast-moving developments in Washington, D.C., evaluating the likelihood of a federal government shutdown – which would begin at 12:01 am on Saturday, December 21, 2024 – and the potential impact on Duke University’s research activity.
As with previous federal government shutdowns, researchers with active federally sponsored grants and contracts will generally be instructed to continue work unless the sponsor issues a specific order to stop work. Investigators may receive instructions from their contracting or program officers; if you receive such information, please notify your grant manager and the appropriate pre-award office (Office of Research Administration for Schools of Medicine/Nursing or Office of Research Support for all other Campus Schools) immediately.
Although we have not received sponsor-specific guidance on how a potential federal government shutdown may impact submission of new or competing applications or progress reporting, we anticipate that some agencies will not be available to process these. If you are preparing an application or progress report for an upcoming submission deadline, you should continue to prepare those documents for an on-time submission. However, we encourage you to review information provided in myRESEARCHpath on the impact of a government shutdown on federal research. Guidance communications from the federal agencies can occur throughout the shutdown.
We will continue to monitor agency specific communications regarding the potential shutdown and provide detailed updates and guidance via email and myRESEARCHpath, as well as general updates provided on Duke Todayand the Duke Office of Government Relations blog.
We are confident that, as with previous federal government shutdowns, we will successfully navigate such a scenario with the assistance and coordination of our research community.
Please reach out to your pre-award office if you have any questions or concerns regarding the impact of a potential federal government shutdown on your research.
December 20, 1:45 p.m.
FROM: Catherine Liao, Associate Vice President for Government Relations for Duke Health
Over the last week, Congress has tried to move forward on a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded but has failed to get enough support to pass a bill. If a bill does not pass by midnight tonight, a government shutdown will begin.
During a shutdown, Social Security and Medicare checks will be sent out, although operations could be slower, and Medicare payments to hospitals, physicians, and other providers would continue to be made. CMS has said it will have sufficient funding for Medicaid to fund the first quarter of FY 2025, based on the advance appropriation provided for in the FY 2024 appropriation. CMS contingency plans can be viewed here. All Veterans Health Administration facilities are expected to remain open and fully functional during a government shutdown. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue essential work, including monitoring and responding to disease outbreaks and managing high-risk recalls and drug shortages.
Duke Health Office of Government Relations is closely monitoring the government funding negotiations in Washington to determine the implications of a possible federal government shutdown on the health system. We are also coordinating with the Duke Office of Government Relations.
HHS Contingency Plans state that 45 percent of the HHS workforce would be furloughed. According to NIH, activities will continue to be largely centered on the ongoing operations at its biomedical research hospital, the NIH Clinical Center, to maintain the safety and continued care of its patients. NIH’s contingency plans can be viewed here.
As noted in our newsletter this week, we recognize the severity of what is at stake. Should a government shutdown become a reality, our office is available to the Duke Health community and prepared to answer questions or share resources from agencies about the impact. Check the Duke Health Government Relations website for updates.