A regular digest for UW faculty with updates on federal and national issues of relevance to their teaching, research and service; actions the University is taking; and ways for faculty to be involved.
Federal landscape
FAFSA processing continues despite government shutdown
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open. Despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Education has confirmed that it will continue to process FAFSA submissions.
Congressional update
The shutdown continues. The House remains in recess, and the two parties remain at an impasse over how to reopen the government. Federal employees are expected to miss their first full paycheck this week, with uncertainty about whether the government will be able to reprogram additional funds to cover military and air traffic controller pay.
Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education
As you have read in the news, multiple universities have directly received requests from the federal government to consider the Compact for Academic Excellence Higher Education. No university has adopted the compact as of this time, and seven institutions have explicitly declined. AAU President Barbara R. Snyder has issued a statement in response
Key links
- Office of the Provost’s Federal Policy Updates
- UW Medicine’s Federal Policy Updates (UW NetID required)
- Office of Research’s Federal Policy Guidance
- UW Research Makes America
Tell us what you think
International
New H1-B visa fee update
The new $100,000 H-1B visa fee will apply only to new visa applicants coming from outside the United States. Applicants already in the U.S. in another valid status should not be subject to the new fee. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups are challenging aspects of the new fee structure
Funding & operations
Federal payments and operational impacts
The University continues to receive payments from federal agencies, including for research, patient care, and student aid. However, as the shutdown continues, negative impacts to business processes that rely on federal agency responses, such as delays or no payments, are possible.
Research and grant review delays
While federal submission portals remain open, the shutdown has halted grant review activities. Study sections and review panels cannot meet during the shutdown, and the October–November period is typically a peak time for these reviews. The delays are expected to impact the timing of grant awards.