The Government Shutdown Ends: What It Means for STEM's Future
By STEM to the Polls | November 14, 2025
After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history officially ended on November 13, 2025 [1], when the President signed a temporary funding bill passed by Congress [2]. Federal workers are returning to their offices, research agencies are reopening their doors, and scientists can finally resume their work.
While the immediate crisis is over, the long-term stability of American science remains a critical concern. The funding bill provides a reprieve, but it is a temporary measure, and several policy challenges facing the research community are unresolved.
What Just Happened? A Quick Recap
The federal government shut down on October 1, 2025 [3], after Congress and the Administration failed to agree on a new funding bill. The core disagreement centered on specific provisions for health care subsidies that lawmakers could not reconcile with other fiscal priorities [4].
For 43 days, the legislative stalemate continued, and the U.S. research enterprise bore significant consequences.
The Immediate Damage to Research
When the government lacks full funding, key science activities cease:
Grant Processes Halted: The National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) suspended the awarding of new grants [5]. Review panels were canceled, creating backlogs for thousands of applicants [6].
Federal Facilities Closed: Federal laboratories, including NOAA research centers and Smithsonian facilities, suspended operations [6]. Researchers at the CDC and other agencies faced furloughs or layoff notices [7].
Access to Resources Blocked: Researchers relying on federal resources—such as beamlines for physics research or federal lands for fieldwork—faced immediate cancellations and indefinite postponements [8]. Collaborations with federal scientists were temporarily severed [9].
Time-Sensitive Projects Delayed: Research dependent on precise seasonal timing, such as Antarctic expeditions [10] or prescribed burn studies [11], faced permanent operational setbacks.
As one NSF-funded scientist observed, the shutdown compounded existing instability, resulting in a "slowdown on top of slowdown" [10].
Unresolved Challenges for U.S. Science
The shutdown was just one factor contributing to a broader climate of instability in federal science policy. Several major challenges persist:
1. Ongoing Budgetary Uncertainty
The Administration's proposed budget for 2026 includes proposals for significant reductions to science agency budgets [12]. For instance, the NIH—the world's largest funder of biomedical research—faces proposals for cuts to its $47 billion budget [13], and the NSF has been instructed to prepare for staff and funding reductions [13]. These proposals must still be debated and negotiated by Congress, but they create deep uncertainty for the research community.
2. Terminated Grants Awaiting Review
Earlier this year, the NSF terminated over 1,040 active grants valued at $739 million [13]. These cancellations involved a new review process based on specific policy criteria [14]. Congress is currently debating legislative action to restore funding for these research projects [15], but their future remains undecided.
3. Increasing Global Competition
Surveys indicate that a high percentage of U.S. scientists are considering leaving the country for positions abroad, citing professional instability [16]. International competitors like France and Canada have launched programs specifically to recruit American researchers [16]. This "brain drain" risks transferring U.S. innovation and expertise to other nations.
4. The Economic Ripple Effect
Analysts estimate that significant reductions to federal science funding could have measurable negative impacts on U.S. GDP [17]. Cuts affect the pipeline of:
Medical breakthroughs and new technologies.
Job creation and company formation.
Training opportunities for the next generation of highly skilled workers.
The Temporary Nature of the Fix
The bill that ended the 43-day shutdown is a Continuing Resolution (CR) that only funds the government until January 30, 2026 [18].
This means that all federal agencies face the possibility of another funding lapse in less than three months. Unless Congress and the Administration can reach an agreement on full appropriations bills for the next fiscal year, the U.S. research enterprise could face renewed disruption.
Why This Matters for Your Future in STEM
This period of instability has direct and critical consequences for students and early-career researchers:
Career Prospects: Uncertainty for graduate funding (fewer NSF fellowships awarded) [17]. Postdoc and faculty positions are often delayed or canceled as universities wait for stable grant funding decisions.
Research Access: Federal cuts force labs to reduce the number of students admitted, shrinking research opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students [17]. Internships and summer programs tied to federal grants are at risk.
Global Standing: The ongoing lack of stability threatens the U.S.'s decades-long position as the undisputed global leader in science [19]. Future innovations and career-defining discoveries may increasingly shift to more stable international partners.
From Policy to Action: Your Role
Science policy is not set by chance—it is shaped by choices made in Washington D.C. Funding levels and government operations are determined by the annual appropriations process involving the White House and both chambers of Congress.
This is where civic engagement becomes essential for the STEM community.
The Bottom Line
The government shutdown is over [1], but the underlying challenges of budgetary instability and policy uncertainty remain. As a member of the STEM community, you have the power to shape the future of American science through informed civic action.
What's Next: We will continue tracking the progress toward the January 30 funding deadline and providing updates on Congressional action concerning science funding.
Resources:
Join the Conversation: How has government funding uncertainty affected your research or studies? Share your story with us at #STEMtothePolls.
STEM to the Polls is a non-partisan civic engagement organization dedicated to making science policy accessible to young voters and empowering the next generation of scientifically-informed citizens.
References
[1] NPR. "Government reopens: What it means for SNAP, backpay and more." November 13, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5607812/government-shutdown-ends-updates
[2] The Washington Post. "Trump signs bill to reopen government, ending longest shutdown in U.S. history." November 12, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/12/government-shutdown-vote-end/
[3] Wikipedia. "Government shutdowns in the United States." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_shutdowns_in_the_United_States
[4] CNN Politics. "The Senate sent a funding bill to the House. Here's what has to happen next to reopen the government." November 10, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/politics/reopen-federal-government-next-steps
[5] Research Professional News. "Government shutdown 'could grind US science to a halt'." October 1, 2025. https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-usa-politics-2025-10-government-shutdown-could-grind-us-science-to-a-halt/
[6] Scientific American. "How the Government Shutdown Is Impacting Science and Research." October 15, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-the-government-shutdown-is-impacting-science-and-research/
[7] Nature. "Scientists lose jobs and grants as US government shutdown takes a toll." October 15, 2025. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03365-1
[8] KUNM. "Federal shutdown affects private-sector research as well as that of public agencies." October 21, 2025. https://www.kunm.org/news/2025-10-21/federal-shutdown-affects-private-sector-research-as-well-as-that-of-public-agencies
[9] Inside Higher Ed. "Researchers, Colleges Face Federal Shutdown Impacts." October 14, 2025. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/faculty-issues/research/2025/10/14/researchers-colleges-face-federal-shutdown-impacts
[10] Science Magazine. "As U.S. shutdown drags on, 'it's just one blow after another'." https://www.science.org/content/article/u-s-shutdown-drags-it-s-just-one-blow-after-another
[11] EOS. "Science Agencies Shuttered in Government Shutdown." October 1, 2025. https://eos.org/research-and-developments/science-agencies-shuttered-in-government-shutdown
[12] University of California. "Cuts to federal science spending will cost every American." July 16, 2025. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/cuts-federal-science-spending-will-cost-every-american
[13] Scientific American. "Under Trump, National Science Foundation Cuts Off All Funding to Scientists." May 2, 2025. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/under-trump-national-science-foundation-cuts-off-all-funding-to-scientists/
[14] NEA. "Trump Cancels Federal Research Grants. What Are the Consequences?" https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/trump-cancels-federal-research-grants-what-are-consequences
[15] Science Magazine. "Senate panel raises hopes that NSF will restore killed grants." July 24, 2025. https://www.science.org/content/article/senate-panel-raises-hopes-nsf-will-restore-killed-grants
[16] Center for American Progress. "Mapping Federal Funding Cuts to U.S. Colleges and Universities." July 23, 2025. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/mapping-federal-funding-cuts-to-us-colleges-and-universities/
[17] Association of American Universities. "Federal Research Cuts Threaten U.S. Innovation and Leadership." https://www.aau.edu/key-issues/federal-research-cuts-threaten-us-innovation-and-leadership
[18] ABC News. "What we know about pending government reopening, as record-long shutdown nears end." November 10, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pending-government-reopening-record-long-shutdown-nears-end/story?id=127417403
[19] The Conversation. "Cutting funding for science can have consequences for the economy, US technological competitiveness." October 2025. https://theconversation.com/cutting-funding-for-science-can-have-consequences-for-the-economy-us-technological-competitiveness-249568