UW-Madison uncertain in face of Trump’s executive orders

The University of Wisconsin-Madison recommended “reasonable caution” on federally funded hiring and expenditures which are “elective” Feb. 3 in the wake of uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s executive orders pausing financial assistance for federal grants and loans.

While the grant and loan freeze has been blocked in federal court and later temporarily rescinded, university leadership recommended caution especially in the areas outlined in the executive orders like “foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations, DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.” 

This move follows a temporary restraining order (TRO) related to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Jan. 27 memorandum which said federal agencies cannot pause funding while review is still ongoing. 

The university previously put a hiring freeze on federally funded positions and recommended caution surrounding current graduate student and post-docs offers. 

“There continues to be a great degree of upheaval at the federal level, even in the last few days, that has a direct impact on our research enterprise,” UW-Madison leadership said in a Monday update on federal funding.

The OMB rescinded the federal freeze memorandum Jan. 29 following federal rulings and lawsuits brought by 22 states, including Wisconsin. Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul previously announced Wisconsin was joining the lawsuit because it could have a devastating impact on the state budget

The university, however, remains concerned about the outcome of Trump's executive orders given the vague language. All stop-work orders placed on current research will be reviewed by the Office of Legal Services to determine if it falls under the TRO. The payment of funds under open and new awards along with review panel activities are also under question.

Some forms of federal aid, like nonprofit funds, remain frozen and dependent on federal funding remains. The freeze had initially cut off colleges and universities from billions of dollars for research and administrative funding. 

The university will work to assess any possible funding gaps created by changes and delays in agency policies and procedures. 

“We remain committed to assessing the impact of each directive, order and court decision related to our awards and the individuals who may be affected by them,” UW-Madison leadership said.

Business leaders expect the threat to federal research funding to have a negative impact on Wisconsin’s economy. Attorney Mark Ehrmann said federal research money has a multiplier effect because it often leads to return on investment, supporting the local economy. 

UW-Madison ranked 6th in research spending among U.S. universities, with half of its $1.7 billion in expenditures coming from the federal government. 

“We expect continued uncertainty and ambiguity, and so we must aim to work together as effectively as possible in this challenging climate,” UW-Madison leadership said. “We understand that times like this create a great deal of stress. Please avail yourselves of support resources such as our Employee Assistance Program if needed and ensure that your staff members are aware of these services.”

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