Government Shutdown Leaves Scientists in Limbo

"The shutdown of the US government, about to enter its third week, is starting to take a toll on US science. Since the shutdown began, the administration of US President Donald Trump has cancelled funding for clean-energy research projects and laid off public-health workers. The activities of some federally funded museums and laboratories have been suspended, along with the processing of grant applications by agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF)."

"Funding to run the US government expired on 1 October after members of the US Congress failed to pass a spending bill. Negotiations to end the impasse have made little progress. Lawmakers from the opposition Democratic party say that they will only pass the spending bill if it extends popular health-care subsidies, a condition that Republicans do not want to negotiate. The longer this goes on, the deeper the cuts are going to be, Vice President JD Vance said Sunday."

"The Trump administration said in a court filing Friday that it will lay off 4,100- 4,200 federal employees, an action officially termed a reduction in force (RIF). The Trump administration invoked the absence of a spending bill as justification for the layoffs, which are an unprecedented measure during a shutdown. Unions representing federal workers have filed suit over the layoffs. Starting Friday night, some 1,300 staff members of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received RIF notices, although the notices for 700 were quickly rescinded,"

A lapse in federal funding since 1 October has halted many scientific activities: clean-energy research funding has been cancelled, federally funded museums and laboratories have been suspended, and grant processing at agencies such as the NSF has stopped. Political stalemate persists as Democrats demand extension of health-care subsidies and Republicans refuse to negotiate. The administration announced an unprecedented reduction in force of roughly 4,100–4,200 federal employees, citing the absence of a spending bill. Unions have filed suit over the layoffs. Hundreds of CDC staff received layoff notices, raising concerns about the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies.

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