Possible Government Shutdown on Oct. 1

We have received questions about the potential impacts of a federal government shutdown on October 1, 2025. While we are hopeful that a shutdown can be avoided, we offer the following  guidance about what we might expect if it isn’t:

• There is a general sense that the longer the shutdown continues the greater the impact will be. If the shutdown is relatively short then it is unlikely that there will be a lasting impact to Wake Forest University.

• Research
  • The most immediate impact will be to government processing services related to research. During a shutdown, new proposals will not be processed, and most grants or peer review activities will be paused.  Similarly, payments and reimbursements for existing grants may be delayed. 
  • On-going research does not need to stop during this period (unless you have received a specific notification from an agency to stop). 
  • In some cases, where personnel are paid directly from a federal grant (such as NSF post docs), there may be a delay in receiving reimbursement from the federal government. 
  • Individuals with questions or concerns about research should contact  Kimberley McAllister (mcallik@wfu.edu).

• Visa and Immigration
  • For the duration of the shutdown, it is likely that the Department of Labor would close. Prevailing Wage Determinations (PWD), and PERM Labor Certifications needed for H-1B petitions and Permanent Residency filings will not be processed.
  • The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (USCIS), and Customs & Border Protection (CBP) typically do not close (because it is funded by fees, or considered essential), so other types of visas (e.g. F-1, J-1) will likely continue to be processed as normal.
  • Individuals with questions or concerns about research should contact Nathanial Lynch (lynchn@wfu.edu).

We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as these events unfold.  

If you have any questions about the government shutdown, please contact Jimmy Broughton (broughjw@wfu.edu).  

For more information, COGR has put together this helpful resource, Considerations for a Federal Government Shutdown.