Georgia Tech Set to Implement Measures Amid Federal Shutdown

Georgia Tech Set to Implement Measures Amid Federal Shutdown

The U.S. government is entering its third week of the federal shutdown as lawmakers continue to negotiate toward an agreement on federal spending for the new fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1.

[Link] Oct 13, 2025 The U.S. government is entering its third week of the federal shutdown as lawmakers continue to negotiate toward an agreement on federal spending for the new fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1. The impasse is delaying payment for federally funded research activities at Georgia Tech, which represent more than $100 million per month in expenses. As a result of the continued shutdown and delayed payments from federal sponsors, Institute leadership, with the guidance of the working group established to focus on this matter, will begin to implement mitigation strategies beginning as early as next week to help ensure business continuity during this shutdown. "While we remain hopeful that the U.S. government shutdown will end soon, it is a fluid situation and we need to begin to slow spending to preserve cash and maintain essential campus operations," said Kim Toatley, vice president for Finance and Planning and chief financial officer. "Georgia Tech is taking a thoughtful, conservative but principled approach to how the Institute will spend resources to help us weather this shutdown and limit the effect on our students and our mission." If the federal shutdown continues beyond Monday, Oct. 20, the Institute is prepared to significantly limit the following activities to help slow expenditures and preserve cash beginning next week:Major contracts, purchases, and other significant non-personnel expenditures.Non-essential travel.New job offers.Consulting services.Details and associated procedures will be distributed to College and unit leaders, along with financial managers. Executive leadership will continue to monitor cash reserves as the shutdown continues. Additional mitigation measures will be considered as circumstances warrant, especially if the shutdown continues into November. Georgia Tech remains committed to continuing research activities during the federal government shutdown to the degree possible, given resource constraints. Georgia Tech will continue to submit invoices and make cash requests as federal systems allow, but payment from sponsors has been delayed. Researchers can consult Georgia Tech guidance here: https://osp.gatech.edu/federal-government-shutdown-guidance.Institute leadership and the working group continue to closely monitor this situation and will continue to provide additional information to the Georgia Tech community as it becomes available.