David Hagen, director of the Office of Cost Analysis, and Shashank Priya, vice president for Research and Innovation, speaking to the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents Mission Fulfillment Committee.
On May 8, University of Minnesota Vice President for Research and Innovation Shashank Priya and Director of the Office of Cost Analysis David Hagen presented an update to the University's Board of Regents on the impact of federal funding disruptions, including award terminations, on the University's research portfolio. They also reported on actions the University is taking right now to help remedy the situation.
Award Terminations
Since early this year, the Research and Innovation Office (RIO) has been tracking the continuous changes in the funding landscape. An escalating number of federally connected sponsored awards have been terminated midstream, delayed, or suspended, in some cases without explanation.
As of April 25, 72 federal awards had been terminated, totaling $22.3 million in lost grant funding, and impacting 220 University of Minnesota personnel. An additional $4.9 million in uncommitted out-year funds will also be lost, bringing the total to $27.2 million. The University is projecting that costs associated with these terminations will extend into FY29, with cascading effects year over year, and new disruptions continuing to be reported.
A majority of the awards affected have been from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The most common reasons for the terminations are related to diversity, equity, and inclusion; foreign aid; climate; vaccines; or the awarding agency was targeted for elimination or reduction. Some projects have been canceled without any explanation at all.
Beyond these terminations, the University is also seeing several other types of disruptions, including stop-work orders, suspended negotiations, and partial terminations. These layered impacts create a destabilizing effect on the research enterprise as a whole.
Remedies and Response
The University is pursuing all remedies available, including submitting formal appeals and working with PIs to adjust scopes of work. RIO and its unit Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) are working with deans and unit leaders on scenario planning, communicating directly with affected PIs, and coordinating national advocacy with AAU, APLU, and others to ensure that the data related to the research and personnel impacts is available to the policy makers.
"This is not a moment to wait and see," said Priya. "We are actively leaning in, both to mitigate impact and to protect the long term strength of our research ecosystem." There is no substitute for federal funding, and we will have to continue to advocate for sustaining the research foundation. But in the short term, we have the responsibility to assist the researchers impacted by these disruptions.
Last week, RIO, in partnership with the Office of the Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations (EVPFO) and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP), launched the Researcher Assistance Initiative for Supporting Emergencies (RAISE) program. RAISE is a one-time emergency funding mechanism designed for researchers whose awards have been terminated due to federal action. It prioritizes early career faculty and essential research personnel at risk of losing continuity or employment.
“The University of Minnesota’s research enterprise is resilient, but today’s environment demands that we be more nimble than ever,” Priya said. “We are fully committed to supporting our researchers—whether through rapid response initiatives, strategic planning, or direct assistance. Our goal is to protect the people that drive discovery and innovation.”
Read the press release and watch a video recording of the presentation.