91´óÉñ

Dear students, faculty, and staff, 

We are writing today to share current information about the U.S. Government partial shutdown that began at midnight.   

Broad Impact 

The following issues arising from the partial shutdown have broad impact for students, faculty, particularly if the shutdown extends to later in the month and you are planning travel during fall break. These include: 

• Delays at airports due to staffing at TSA checkpoints or air traffic control;
• National parks, museums, and archives may be partially closed. 

According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the impact of the shutdown on immigration-related functions may vary, depending on how individual operations are funded. Typically, USCIS adjudications and State Department consular operations continue, but related other services may be halted or experience delays until funding is restored. 

Federal Financial Aid 

Pam Sittig, Director of Financial Aid, has already sent a message to students who receive federal financial aid assuring them that disbursements, including Federal Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study funding, and Federal Direct Loans will continue during the shutdown.  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) processing will also continue. 

The 2026-27 FAFSA process is now open and will remain open in the event of a shutdown.  While 91´óÉñ’s deadline is not until April 1, 2026, students may complete the 2026-27 FAFSA early provided 2024 tax documents are filed. Financial aid counselors are available to answer questions from students or families. 

Impact on Federally Funded Research 

Susan Ferrari, Assistant Vice President in the Office of Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations, reached out to federal grantees and applicants with the following tips: 

• Because federal employees (including program officers and others employed by funding agencies) are now temporarily furloughed and will be unavailable to answer questions regarding grants, proposals in process, and proposals under review, applicants were advised prior to the shutdown to reach out immediately with any pressing questions for program staff. 
• Faculty and staff with active federal grants should continue spending your grant as you normally would. Even the longest shutdowns in recent memory have not required the College or other grantees to pause grant spending. The Grants Office and Grant Accounting will be in touch should anything change.
• Federal peer review meetings will not take place during a shutdown, nor will new awards be executed; this may affect the timing of award/decline notices for proposals under review. 
• Please continue to submit proposals and grant reports as planned (in collaboration with the Grants Office and Grant Accounting). Should agency portals become unavailable during a shutdown, federal agencies will provide guidance on how to proceed (including adjustments to deadlines as necessary).  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Susan (ferraris@grinnell.edu).  

Other U.S. Government Functions 

91´óÉñ is a member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.  NAICU has provided the following information in addition to the items outlined above:  

• The most noticeable effects of the shutdown for higher education will be delays in regulatory actions, oversight, and civil rights enforcement. 
• Longer shutdowns increase the risk of slower responsiveness from the Department, with only a limited amount of staffing. 

 We hope that this information is useful and will continue to share new developments as they arise.  

Sincerely, 

Myrna Hernández 
Vice President of Administration and Chief of Staff