From: Fred Kowal
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Subject: Federal Government Shutdown — Information/Impacts
Dear Executive Board members and Chapter Presidents,
I wanted to reach out to update you about the federal shutdown and what impact it may have on the important work we do. It’s been just three days and already concerns are rising about the impact nationally on important government functions and the economy.
With respect to our work, at present, the shutdown is not presenting a major challenge for SUNY. However, with financially harmful threats to New York State coming from the White House on a daily basis, any significant cuts to federal funding absorbed by the state would likely also reverberate through SUNY. Please know that I am closely monitoring this situation, working closely with our staff and affiliates, and I will be in immediate contact with you if anything arises that is a threat to our work
This shutdown, now in its third day, is unfortunate and points directly to the dysfunction that’s rife throughout our federal government. But let’s be clear: We are in this situation because of the actions of the administration and the Republicans who control Congress. This administration pushed through a budget that will benefit billionaires and bring real harm to the millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid and depend on the Affordable Care Act for health care coverage. Their irresponsible actions will cause health insurance costs to soar, not just for ACA and Medicaid recipients, but for all of us. As individuals lose health insurance through the changes and cuts to Medicaid and the ACA, insurance companies will raise premiums on the rest of us to cover the costs of those who are uninsured. This will represent a direct transfer of wealth from working people to the richest one tenth of one percent of our nation.
Additionally, as unionists, we must and will stand shoulder to shoulder with our union siblings who work for the federal government and whose jobs and financial futures are in great danger. An attack on unionized workers and indeed their right to unionize (which has been happening since Trump returned to power) is a threat to all unions. The administration has made clear that they will use the shutdown as a means by which federal agencies (like the Department of Education) are hollowed out, endangering programs that impact higher education, while also devastating the workforce.
We are fortunate to have a national affiliate — the AFT — which is providing a great deal of information daily, and which I am happy to share with you here. First, there is AFT’s detailed analysis of the shutdown’s impact on higher education. Second, there is the link to the statement issued today by President Weingarten and AAUP President Todd Wolfson, which responds to the blackmail offer from the administration to higher education. That “offer” ensures that campuses will be protected from further attacks from the White House if they follow the ideological line of the administration. This is unacceptable and more accurately, despicable coming from the government of a supposedly democratic nation. Lastly, there are a series of links to other union statements in response to the shutdown.
Again, I will continue to keep you posted on federal steps and their impact. Feel free to write if you have questions or if you’re seeing impacts occurring on your campuses due to the federal actions.
One final note, this message will also be sent to UUP delegates and statewide committee members. Hence, you will be getting two copies of this message. However, feel free to distribute this message to your chapter membership as you see fit.
At times like these, information is vitally important for us to do our jobs. And so is solidarity… Stay well, stay in touch and be safe…
In Solidarity,
Fred
AFT Analysis on the Impact of the Shutdown on Higher Education
During the shutdown, we expect the Department of Education will continue to disburse student aid such as Pell grants and federal direct student loans, and student loan borrowers will still be required to make payments on their outstanding student debt. Further, the office of Federal Student Aid will except agency employees as needed to conduct certain rulemakings and other actions necessary to meet statutory requirements under H.R. 1, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Most of the department’s grant programs typically issue awards over the summer, which means there will be limited impact on the department’s grantmaking. Grantees will continue to be able to draw down funds from these awards, so the effects on colleges/universities and students should be minimal. The department’s Office for Civil Rights will pause its review and investigations of civil rights complaints. And the department’s development and implementation of guidance, technical assistance and regulatory actions will also pause, unless required for otherwise-funded activities.
It is likely that agencies like the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health will pause new grant awards, proposal reviews and program launches. We believe that colleges and universities with existing federal research awards may still be able to draw down previously obligated funds, but technical assistance, progress reviews and application processing are typically suspended.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Sept. 23 analysis is a good overview of the impacts of a federal shutdown. According to this analysis, most federal research staff and grant managers are classified as nonessential and furloughed, resulting in delays that can extend well beyond the shutdown itself.
For more information from the Department of Education, click here. For more information from the National Institutes of Health, click here. For guidance from NSF, click here. For a thorough overview of the effects of the shutdown on higher education, see this resource from the American Council on Education.
AFT Higher Education will continue to provide updates to our affiliates on the shutdown. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at highereddept@aft.org.
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AFT/AAUP Statement on Loyalty Pledge
AAUP’s Wolfson and AFT’s Weingarten on Trump’s Loyalty Pledge for Colleges and Universities | American Federation of TeachersStatement from AFT President Randi Weingarten
Labor Union Statements Regarding Federal Shutdown
Statement from AFT President Randi Weingarten
Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler
Statement from NY AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento
Statement from National Education Association President Becky Pringle
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From: Stony Brook University Libraries
Sent: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 4:01 PM
Subject: University Libraries Government Shutdown Information
| Dear Stony Brook Community Members, In response to the US Federal Government shutdown, the University Libraries’ have compiled a research guide of both open access and subscription resources which contain information from U.S. agencies and departments to ensure continuity of access to lessen the disruption to campus instruction, learning and research activities. The LibGuide, entitled, U.S. Federal Government Shutdown: Notification & Information, is available on the University Libraries’ Research Guides webpage, and is accessible from the University Libraries website landing page. The guide provides an overview of past shutdowns impact on Libraries, a listing of U.S. agency contingency planning, and alternate access to U.S. government information. For assistance locating resources, contact the University Libraries’ Reference Team via the Ask a Librarian website, or via email at: Library_Reference@stonybrook.edu. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact members of the University Libraries’ Subject Teams for assistance; University Libraries’ Leadership, Faculty and Staff will continue to monitor the situation, and revise services accordingly. |