Editor’s Note: This message was emailed from UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy and Dr. Francisco Cigarroa, senior executive vice president for Health Affairs and Health System, to university faculty, staff and students on Sept. 30.
As you may know, Congress has not yet reached an agreement on funding the federal government budget for the next fiscal year, raising the possibility of a government shutdown. If it occurs, it will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. While we do not know whether such a shutdown will occur, how long it might last, or how significant the impact will be, we want you to know that UT San Antonio is preparing carefully. We are also committed to keeping you informed every step of the way.
We are in communication with our federal delegation, our Governmental Relations team, UT System leaders and campus leadership teams to best prepare for this shutdown. If it occurs, we will continue to provide information to you as quickly as we can.
Please know that we have already proactively initiated federal drawdowns, begun preparations for advising impacted employees who are also federal personnel, and worked to complete grant and contract transactions with our federal partners.
For most students, including those receiving federal financial aid, short-term shutdowns typically have caused little disruption. Research and grant activities, however, may be impacted if federal agencies pause new awards, delay reimbursements or issue stop-work orders. The longer a shutdown lasts, the greater the potential impact. For patient care services, we expect reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue as an essential function; however, we are monitoring closely.
For more information and answers to common questions, please visit this helpful FAQ page. This website will also provide agency contingency plans as they become available. This resource will be updated as the federal situation evolves.
We know this uncertainty is difficult. Please be assured that we will provide timely updates and guidance on our web page and in direct communications with you so you can plan accordingly. Our institution has faced similar challenges before, and we will navigate this together, emerging stronger like we always do.
We will continue our positive trajectory with resilience, adaptability and purpose. Together as one, very strong community, we will navigate this moment with thoughtfulness and expertise. And in doing so, we will affirm yet again, the extraordinary potential of UT San Antonio.
