Federal Research Developments 2025

Check this page frequently for developments related to federally sponsored research.

For any direct communications from the federal government regarding current awards, including stop-work orders, draw-down justifications, or requests for data, please forward the email immediately to MU’s Office of Sponsored Programs at

For questions related to indirect cost rates, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs at . Note that this time, investigators are instructed to use MU’s federally negotiated indirect cost rate on federal grant application budgets (updated 8/15/25).

Recent Updates

• On August 14, 2025, the NIH announced via Notice NOT-OD-25-143 that NIH NOFOs will no longer be published via the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts or NIH subscription emails, and will instead only be published via Grants.Gov. PIs are advised to sign up for grants alerts via Grants.Gov.
• On August 7, 2025, the White House released Executive Order 14332, “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking.” Among many changes, this EO plans to appoint a “senior appointee” to every agency to review FOAs and new awards independently for alignment of the president’s priorities. Additionally, the EO outlines changes to Uniform Guidance, requiring the termination of an agreement “for convenience.” The implications of this EO are not yet clear.
• On July 17, 2025, the NIH released Notice NOT-OD-25-132, “Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications.” This notice focused on the usage of Artificial Intelligence in research grant applications and brings attention to an increase in NIH applications since the widespread adoption of AI language tools. The Notice implements a new rule allowing for no more than 6 NIH applications (including new and resubmissions) from an individual PI/PD per year, excluding T-activity codes and R13s. Additionally, the NIH will not consider applications believed to be substantially developed by AI or containing sections substantially developed by AI– and may withold future funds from PIs submitting these applications.
• On July 18, 2025, the NIH released Notice NOT-OD-25-130, “Updated Implementation Guidance of NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards for Active Projects.” NIH may negotiate to remove foreign subawards on existing awards, among other changes.
• On June 12, 2025, the DoD released a Memorandum that implements a 15% indirect cost rate on all new agreements on institutes of higher education. Update: A preliminary injunction was granted June 18 preventing the DoD from implementing the 15% indirects rate for awards issued on or after June 12, 2025.
• On May 2, 2025, the National Science Foundation (NSF) released a notice implementing a 15% indirects rate for all institutes of higher education. Update: on June 20, a Summary Judgement was issued, resulting in the NSF invalidating the 15% indirects policy at this time.
• On April 21, 2025, NIH issued Notice NOT-OD-25-090,”Notice of Civil Rights Term and Condition of Award Language.” Update: This Notice was rescinded June 12, 2025.

Relevant Executive Orders