Federal shutdown: CU leadership committed to minimizing disruptions

As the federal government shutdown took effect Wednesday, CU’s leaders said they would work to protect CU education and research priorities during a time of increased uncertainty.

Here is the communication, signed by CU President Todd Saliman and the four campus chancellors, that was distributed Wednesday morning to the CU community:

Dear Colleagues,

Because Congress remains at an impasse over how to temporarily extend federal government operations to allow themselves more time to negotiate final funding levels for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, which begins Oct. 1, the U.S. government is shut down. The impact of a federal government shutdown to CU will largely depend on its duration. A short-term shutdown will likely result in minimal disruption of day-to-day operations. The impact may be more significant if the shutdown is longer.

The current lapse in appropriations means most activities at federal agencies are paused. While some activities have been deemed “essential” and may continue, most federal activities are considered “nonessential” and have stopped. The White House has broad discretion to determine what is essential and nonessential. During the shutdown, most federal employees will be furloughed. Communications with federal agencies will halt since staff are not allowed to use their work email or phones. In the past, federal research agencies have not been allowed to review proposals, convene review panels or advisory committees, issue new awards or make manual payments to existing awards. In other words, nearly all research and innovation related activities within the federal government will stop until funding is restored.

Federal student aid levels for the 2025-26 academic year will not be impacted by a shutdown since they are already in statute. These levels were set in the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 (H.R. 1968), which was signed into law this March. Disruptions to the disbursement of federal student aid may occur, however, and become more likely if the shutdown is prolonged. The U.S. Department of Education announced it will furlough 85 percent of its employees in the Office of Federal Student Aid during the shutdown. These furloughs are expected to exacerbate already reduced staff capacity at the Department following Reductions in Force (RIFs) implemented earlier this year. In addition, the White House Office of Management and Budget instructed all federal agencies to implement additional RIFs that will remain effective even after federal appropriations are restored.

During previous shutdowns federal agencies posted guidance, or contingency plans on the White House website. Since the White House announced it will not link to those plans this time, CU is doing our best to catalog agency contingency plans on our own Federal Relations website.

We recognize the uncertainty and concern precipitated by a federal government shutdown. We are committed to keeping you informed, minimizing disruptions to the campuses as best as we can and working with Congress, other universities and the national associations to do our best to protect CU education and research priorities during the shutdown and as FY26 negotiations continue.

Sincerely,

Todd Saliman, CU President

Ken Christensen, CU Denver Chancellor

Don Elliman, CU Anschutz Chancellor

Justin Schwartz, CU Boulder Chancellor

Jennifer Sobanet, UCCS Chancellor