The federal government will shut down on 12/21/2024 if Congress is not able to pass a spending bill, and that looks increasingly likely thanks to President-elect Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.
As a retired scientist, I have personally experienced the problems that these government shutdown have on the funding of academic research. For example, the shutdowns have a huge impact on the reviewing and evaluation of grant applications. At the National Institutes of Health, there are dozens of grant review panels called Study Sections. These panels meet three times a year, and they require extensive planning by the NIH staff who schedule and run the panels. Government shutdowns completely disrupt this critical process. During the period when I was actively engaged in research, NIH staff were not even allowed to come into their offices to work during a shutdown, so, naturally, they fell behind. I hope that ridiculous practice has changed!
Ugh. I wish it changed but it has not. Unfortunately, if the shutdown proceeds, no federal scientists will be able to work unless they are essential. Even the essential workers will likely be on a modified schedule. Let’s hope Congress gets it together. Thanks for the comment and your work as a researcher, Ron!
As a retired scientist, I have personally experienced the problems that these government shutdown have on the funding of academic research. For example, the shutdowns have a huge impact on the reviewing and evaluation of grant applications. At the National Institutes of Health, there are dozens of grant review panels called Study Sections. These panels meet three times a year, and they require extensive planning by the NIH staff who schedule and run the panels. Government shutdowns completely disrupt this critical process. During the period when I was actively engaged in research, NIH staff were not even allowed to come into their offices to work during a shutdown, so, naturally, they fell behind. I hope that ridiculous practice has changed!
Ugh. I wish it changed but it has not. Unfortunately, if the shutdown proceeds, no federal scientists will be able to work unless they are essential. Even the essential workers will likely be on a modified schedule. Let’s hope Congress gets it together. Thanks for the comment and your work as a researcher, Ron!