The federal government shut down at midnight because of a standstill in budget negotiations between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
For UF, the shutdown will impact the institution’s research projects, which rely on financial support from federal grants and agencies.
According to a memo from David Norton, UF research vice president, research using money already disbursed to the university can continue without interruption, unless a “stop work” order has been issued.
Federal student aid such as Pell grants will not be affected, said U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho in a statement.
The shutdown is expected to have minimal impact on the city of Gainesville, but that may change as more information becomes available to local officials, said city spokesman Bob Woods.
Gainesville’s Regional Transit System bus lines, one of two city services Woods said receives federal funding, is not at risk.
“We don’t foresee it impacting our service whatsoever,” said Chip Skinner, an RTS spokesman.
“Office buildings would close. Paychecks would be delayed. Vital services that seniors and veterans, women and children, businesses and our economy depend on would be hamstrung,” Obama wrote.
Social Security, Medicare, the U.S. Postal Service, the Armed Forces and NASA Mission Control will remain in operation, according to the statement.
The Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period will commence today as planned.
The last federal government shutdown started in 1995 and lasted less than a month.
A version of this story ran on page 1 on 10/1/2013 under the headline "Federal government shutdown freezes some research funds"
