Potential impact of government shutdown, 1-20-2018

Dear colleagues,  

As you may know, the failure of the U.S. Congress to pass a temporary or permanent budget measure by midnight last night has resulted in the halting of all “nonessential” federal government operations until a funding measure is passed. With the assistance of our government relations team, we have been monitoring the shutdown and the impact it could have on our campus. The good news is that, at least in the short run, we do not anticipate major disruptions.  

Here are some of the impacts we expect to be most relevant for CU Anschutz faculty and staff.  

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – According to the Department of Health and Human Services:

• The Medicare Program will continue largely without disruption during a lapse in appropriations in the short run. 
• States will have sufficient funding for Medicaid through the second quarter, due to the continuation of authority under the continuing resolution (a four-week stopgap funding bill) for appropriated entitlements.
• CMS will maintain the staff necessary to make payments to eligible states from remaining Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) carryover balances.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) – NIH will not take any actions on grant applications or awards. However, during past shutdowns, faculty have still been able to submit grants, and the agency has maintained the Payment Management System in an operational status to continue processing some grant drawdown requests that do not require manual intervention. Program officers will not be available to answer questions during a shutdown.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – HRSA would continue activities funded through sources other than annual appropriations including the Community Health Centers and the National Health Service Corps. HRSA would be unable make payments for the Children’s Hospital GME Program. 

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) – The Veterans Health Administration, including the VA Medical Centers, are largely funded through advanced appropriations. So, we do not expect significant disruption to VA employees during a shutdown.   

Department of Education (ED) – Direct Student Loan programs are expected to operate as normal.   

National Science Foundation (NSF) – As part of the shutdown activity, a notice will be sent to the Foundation’s off-site awardees informing them that work may continue on all awards to the extent that doing so will not require federal staff intervention and that funds are available.  The notice will inform awardees that no payments will be made during the funding hiatus.  

Department of Defense (DOD) – DOD would continue activity on fully funded contracts that were awarded prior to the expiration of appropriations.  New contracts including contract renewals or extensions may not be executed.   

Here are some other resources for guidance on the shutdown: 

• A general overview from the Office of Management and Budget. Section II, pages 3-9, includes FAQs regarding grants and contracts. 
• An HHS agency-specific shutdown contingency plan.​  

Thank you for your patience in working through conditions that may be less than ideal. We will continue to monitor the situation and will be sure to inform you of any significant impacts we foresee.

Don Elliman
Chancellor