Statements & Guidance from Federal Agencies
Federal agencies continue to update their guidance in response to the change in administration. We will continue to update this page as federal agencies roll out guidance.
NSF Update on Required Certifications for PI and Co-PI’s
Starting on June 7, 2025, in accordance with the , all PIs or co-PIs named on an NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024, must certify annually in Research.gov that they are not party to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRP). Individuals who are currently a party to a MFTRP are not eligible to serve as senior/key personnel on an NSF proposal or on any NSF award made on or after May 20, 2024. NSF is providing notification of this new requirement to impacted PIs and co-PIs.
What you need to know about completing the required MFTRP certification in Research.gov:
- Impacted PIs and co-PIs will be prompted to complete the MFTRP certification after signing into Research.gov using the Sign In link at the top of .
- PIs and co-PIs with more than one active award made on or after May 20, 2024, are only required to certify once, annually.
- Once completed, PIs and co-PIs can view their MFTRP certification response under the Academic/Professional Information section of their profile.
Please email your Grant and Contract Officer, and CC Claire Phinney and Debie Schmidt once you have completed the certification.
- NSF is working to expand the MFTRP annual certification requirement for all senior/key personnel roles at a future date.
- Frequently Asked Questions and MFTRP contract examples will be available on the shortly.
What is a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP)?
The National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, and other federal funding agencies are beginning to prohibit sponsored research personnel from participating in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRPs), as required by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. But not all foreign talent recruitment programs are malign.
How do you know if an arrangement is a MFTRP? If the arrangement is described in Section A below, and has at least one factor from section B and at least one factor from Section C, the arrangement falls within the CHIPS and Science Act’s definition of a MFTRP. Please do not hesitate to contact the Export Controls Officer with any questions.
A. Any program, position, or activity that includes compensation in the form of cash, in-kind compensation, including research funding, promised future compensation, complimentary foreign travel, things of non de minimis value, honorific titles, career advancement opportunities, or other types of remuneration or consideration directly provided by a foreign country at any level (national, provincial, or local) or their designee, or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country, whether or not directly sponsored by the foreign country, to the targeted individual, whether directly or indirectly stated in the arrangement, contract, or other documentation at issue—
B. Problematic Obligations/Activities
In exchange for the individual—
(1) engaging in the unauthorized transfer of intellectual property, materials, data products, or other nonpublic information owned by a United States entity or developed with a Federal research and development award to the government of a foreign country or an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country regardless of whether that government or entity provided support for the development of the intellectual property, materials, or data products;
(2) being required to recruit trainees or researchers to enroll in such program, position, or activity;
(3) establishing a laboratory or company, accepting a faculty position, or undertaking any other employment or appointment in a foreign country or with an entity based in, funded by, or affiliated with a foreign country if such activities are in violation of the standard terms and conditions of a Federal research and development award;
(4) being unable to terminate the foreign talent recruitment program contract or agreement except in extraordinary circumstances;
(5) through funding or effort related to the foreign talent recruitment program, being limited in the capacity to carry out a research and development award or required to engage in work that would result in substantial overlap or duplication with a Federal research and development award;
(6) being required to apply for and successfully receive funding from the sponsoring foreign government's funding agencies with the sponsoring foreign organization as the recipient;
(7) being required to omit acknowledgment of the recipient institution with which the individual is affiliated, or the Federal research agency sponsoring the research and development award, contrary to the institutional policies or standard terms and conditions of the Federal research and development award;
(8) being required to not disclose to the Federal research agency or employing institution the participation of such individual in such program, position, or activity; or
(9) having a conflict of interest or conflict of commitment contrary to the standard terms and conditions of the Federal research and development award;
C. Problematic Sponsorship
And is a program sponsored by—
(1) a foreign country of concern (FCOC), currently defined as: China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia;
(2) an entity based in a FCOC, whether or not the program is directly sponsored by the government of the FCOC; or
(3) an academic institution or a foreign talent recruitment program identified by .
National Institutes of Health
Updated at 3:15 pm on May 7, 2025
The NIH posted on the morning of May 7, 2025 (immediately below). If you have questions regarding this guidance, please reach out to Scott Whittenburg or Nicole Thompson.
This notice alerts the extramural community that NIH has temporarily disabled the in eRA Commons. The Director of NIH has directed NIH staff to review all existing grants and cooperative agreements to ensure that NIH awards do not fund off-mission activities or projects. Therefore, temporarily disabling the NCE functionality in eRA Commons will allow NIH staff to review and assess all NCE requests to confirm that the activities proposed during the extension align with the NIH mission and agency priorities.
At this time, all requests for NCEs must be submitted as a in eRA Commons, for NIH review and approval. Requests for activities that do not align with the NIH mission and agency priorities will not be approved.
Department of Energy
Updated at 12:45 pm on January 30, 2025
For the most up-to-date news, please visit the .
National Science Foundation
Updated at 3:30 pm on January 29. 2025
For the most up-to-date news, please visit the .
National Edowment for the Arts
Updated at 9:00 am on February 7, 2025
The National Endowment for the Arts is updating its FY 2026 grant guidelines, with deadlines in March and July 2025. These changes impact organizations applying in the Grants for Arts Projects or Challenge America categories. Please see the .
Department of Defense
Updated at 11:45 am on February 7, 2025
The DOD issued a on Jan. 28th clarifying that the scope of the OMB M-25-13 memo does not include contracts thus DOD has not paused contract awards. Per DOD communication, “the Department will temporarily pause activities related to the obligation or disbursement of financial assistance, to the extent permissible under applicable law.”
Additionally, DOD they will not use funds or other resources to host events related to cultural awareness months.
Environmental Protection Agency
Updated at 11:45 am on February 7, 2025
We have learned through the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) that the EPA is working to implement President Trump’s and has paused all funding actions related to the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act at this time. There is no pause on activities related to the obligation or disbursement of EPA Federal financial assistance referenced in the OMB M-25-13 memo at this time.
NASA
Updated at 11:45 am on February 7, 2025
NASA has ordered contractors and grantees to immediately cease all DEIA-related activities, as described in a .
Other General Information
Updated at 11:45 am on February 7, 2025
- The (COGR) maintains a web page related to the 2025 administration transition with agency directives, relevant articles, and other relevant information.
- If you are working on a grant proposal to a federal agency, please visit the funder’s website to confirm that you have the most current version of the request for proposals (or similar guiding document).