Dear Members of the Georgetown University Community,
I’m writing to share with you some implications for our university community following the government shutdown that began overnight.
Congress must pass, and the President must sign, legislation that funds the federal government. When they fail to do so, the federal government experiences a funding gap that causes it to shut down with limited exceptions.
The federal government is the largest employer in the Washington, DC, region, and this disruption may have meaningful consequences for our students, faculty and staff, as well as their families and friends.
The government shutdown may lead to the following impacts for our community:
International Students
Most immigration services are likely to remain operational during a shutdown. The State Department will continue its consular services. Department of Homeland Security immigration requests, such as Optional Practical Training (OPT), are fee-based and will continue to be processed. There may still be some delays and incoming and current students and alumni should allow additional time for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requests and visa processing. Please email internationalservices@georgetown.edu with any questions or concerns.
Military-Connected Students
It is not likely that a delay will occur in education benefit processing for military and veteran-connected students using Department of Veterans Affairs education benefits. However, for military students using Department of Defense (DoD) education benefits whose classes begin on or after Oct. 1, 2025, Department of Defense Tuition Assistance funding may be canceled. Please contact your DoD education office for more details.
Research and Federal Grant Funding
We recognize the additional disruption this shutdown brings to current federal research funding uncertainties. The Joint Office of Research Administration (JORA) will continue to provide support during this time. If you have received a federal grant or Notice of Award, and a Georgetown account has been set up (or will be set up), the shutdown alone should not interfere with your ability to perform work under the grant agreement, unless the work requires ongoing approval by the granting agency. If you are awaiting a Notice of Award for funding or have recently been issued a Notice of Grant Award with restrictions, funding will be delayed, you might not be able to perform work under the agreement and the university might not be able to request reimbursement for work performed. Please email JORA at JORA@georgetown.edu for updates on the status of individual awards.
If you have a proposal due to any federal agency, including but not limited to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD) or the National Science Foundation (NSF), during the period of the shutdown, adjusted submission dates are possible. It is likely the shutdown will add to delays in new research grant applications, progress reports, prior approval requests and other federal assistance on current grants. Researchers with active funded contracts may continue to work under the contract, unless the Principal Investigator or Georgetown receives a Stop Work Order for the contract. Please forward any Stop Work Orders to JORA.
Researchers may be unable to access some government grant proposal submission systems, online libraries and data banks. In addition, if you collaborate with a federally employed researcher, they may be limited in the work they’re able to continue during this time.
In the past, agencies like the NIH, DOD, CDC and NSF have provided guidance on work impacted by the shutdown, including grant applications and contract work. Please monitor their websites and watch for additional guidance from JORA.
Internship and Externship Programs with the Federal Government
Some Georgetown students interning on Capitol Hill or with a federal agency, and some law students in the J.D. or LL.M. Externship Program, might experience disruption. This is up to the discretion of the congressional office or agency hosting the intern or extern.
Law students in the J.D. Externship Program with concerns should email lawexp@georgetown.edu with any questions. LL.M. students with questions or concerns about the shutdown should be in touch with Tiffany Joly, Assistant Dean, Graduate & International Programs (tmj40@georgetown.edu).
Student Aid
Since financial aid is disbursed at the beginning of the semester, student aid is typically not impacted by a shutdown. Students applying for funding from the Department of Education, whether for loans or loan forgiveness, could experience delays. We will continue to monitor disbursements of federal financial aid, exchanges and scholarship funding in case they are impacted or delayed.
Regulations
Regulatory actions like the issuance of proposed and final rules and the review of comments may be delayed.
Financial Assistance
If you are a faculty or staff member who has a family member impacted by the shutdown (furloughed or working without pay) over a sustained period of time, there are a number of resources to assist you. You may be eligible to request a loan or, in limited circumstances, a hardship withdrawal against your retirement savings plan. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. If you would like additional information, please visit the Office of Faculty & Staff Benefits website or email benefitshelp@georgetown.edu.
Georgetown University’s Faculty & Staff Assistance Program provides free, confidential counseling, consultation and referral services to faculty, staff and their immediate family members. Please reach out to fsap@georgetown.edu for additional information. In addition, employees and their family members may use the work-life and mental health support resources available through Journey. Additional well-being resources can be found on Every Hoya Cares.
Additional Resources
We understand that recent changes within the federal workforce are bringing uncertainty and challenges, and we are committed to supplying as much information as we can to help you during this time. We have compiled a range of resources and opportunities on this website designed to assist all federal workers, including our alumni and members of the Georgetown community, as you navigate your next steps.
We will continue to monitor the impact of the shutdown and will provide updates as appropriate.
Sincerely,
Katy Button
Associate Vice President for Federal Government Relations