MADISON (WKOW) — Researchers at UW-Madison whose work is federally funded should continue as normal, administrators said Tuesday, after a day of confusion about how an executive order from President Donald Trump freezing some federal funding would affect organizations and programs across the country.
A memo from the Office of Management and Budget called for a temporary pause of federal agency grants, loans and other funding programs. A federal judge temporarily blocked the order from taking effect.
Following those developments, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, Provost Charles Isbell, Jr. and Dorota A. Grejner-Brzezinska, the Vice Chancellor for Research, sent an email to faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers and graduate student researchers Tuesday evening.
“The memo has created a great deal of understandable uncertainty for our campus, as well as for many others with whom we partner and rely, including state and local government, non-profit organizations and other entities that receive federal funding,” the email reads. “The potential impacts are significant and concerning for a campus of our size and scope, particularly given the depth of our commitment to research.”
UW-Madison administrators said they are assessing the OMB memo’s meaning, legality and impact.
“Despite the current uncertainty, we believe it is appropriate for federally-funded research activities at UW-Madison to continue and students and employees supported by federal funding should continue their normal activities,” administrators said in the email. “However, …everyone should remain alert and adaptable as new information and directions become clear.”
Administrators said one exception is for instances where a federal agency has issued a stop-work order. They said UW-Madison has received a small number of those orders.