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Updates on 2025 Federal Research Policy Changes

Updated as of 2/11/2025

The Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry, and Creative Activity and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs are closely tracking the rapidly changing landscape of federal agency directives regarding funding policies, awards, and solicitations.

Our community is closely following these developments and members may have questions about impacts to their own research. Please see below for resources and internal communications.

Wake Forest University leadership continues to monitor these developments in consultation with our colleagues at other North Carolina universities and within the ACC, and through societies and research associations (including COGR and NCURA). We will update this page frequently as we learn more. In the meantime, please continue to:

If you have questions about a specific funding opportunity, please ask your Grants and Contracts Manager (GCM) for assistance.

If you are contacted directly by a federal agency or prime entity or sub-awardee about a federally funded grant or contract, please contact VPR McAllister at mcallik@wfu.edu.

If you are contacted by a news organization about the impact of federal policies on your work, please contact Executive Director of Strategic Communications Cheryl Walker at walkercv@wfu.edu.

Internal communications

All messages

If you’re interested in receiving WFU research-related communications, join the WFU Research Info Google group.

Recent Updates

Several executive orders (EOs) have been issued that address federally funded research.  Copies of EOs are posted on the White House’s News page. 

The January 27 funding freeze, Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies to Temporary Pause of Agency Grant, Loan, and Other Financial Assistance Programs has been temporarily halted in court pending litigation and rescinded. Litigation continues. 

On February 7, the NIH released updated guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement regarding Indirect Cost Rates. This policy introduces a 15% cap on indirect cost rates for both new and ongoing grants, effective from February 10, 2025. In response, on February 10, the Massachusetts Attorney General, joined by 21 other states, filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent the implementation of the new NIH guidance. At the same time, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and various other organizations, including the American Council on Education (ACE), the Association of American Universities (AAU), and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), along with several research universities, also initiated legal action to block the policy. On the evening of February 10, the U.S. District Court issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) in the cases brought by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and AAMC, preventing the implementation of the policy for the time being. The court enjoined Defendant agencies NIH, HHS, and their officers and employees “from taking any steps to implement, apply, or enforce the Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates (NOTOD-25-068), issued by the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health on February 7, 2025, in any form with respect to institutions nationwide until further order is issued by this Court.” Legal proceedings will continue with hearings scheduled in the coming weeks 

Agency Guidance

Please find agency guidance and communications related to recent White House Executive Orders: