Shutdown ends, lasting effects to be seen
After a 16-day shutdown, government scientists who were locked out of their labs and offices are returning to work today (October 17), as the US Congress finally struck a deal to fund federal operations through January 15. While the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) are now able to process grant proposals, neither agency has posted new guidance for applicants as of this posting, and cancelled study sections are yet to be rescheduled. Both within and outside of these federal agencies, scientists are left to wonder whether—and for how long—the more than two-week hiatus might stifle research progress, notably by delaying funding awards and delaying field seasons.
As ScienceInsider noted, “Some of the shutdown’s ...
