Federal Government Shutdown

October 1, 2025

Dear campus community,

Effective this morning, the U.S. federal government has entered a shutdown period until Congress can pass the necessary budget appropriations for this fiscal year. We understand that this situation brings up questions about how we at Cleveland State University could be affected.

This is, of course, not the first shutdown in this nation’s history, and we cannot say for sure how long it will last or when Congress will pass the legislation needed to end it. We do know that only government offices and staff deemed “essential” will remain open in the meantime. All other government offices will be closed until the shutdown is concluded.

We do not anticipate any immediate consequences for our daily operations here at CSU, and the University will remain open during the shutdown. However, it is possible that this time could affect you on an individual basis. If you depend on government programs and services, we recommend you contact the necessary government office to learn if these services will be available.

CSU is here to answer your questions and provide as many reliable resources as possible during this time:

• If you rely on food assistance programs, such as SNAP, and are in need of assistance during the shutdown, please contact the Lift Up Vikes! Food Pantry and Resource Center for information on how we can support you at this time.
• For veteran and military-connected students, please contact our Veteran and Military Success Center if you have questions as to how the shutdown may affect your benefits.
• We do not anticipate any immediate impact on federal student aid for this academic year, as CSU receives federal aid for students at the start of the semester. If you have questions about your federal aid, please contact Campus411 All-in-1 Enrollment Services.
• Federal funding for research, if already awarded, also should not be impacted at this moment. However, it is likely that the awarding of new grants and other funding would be delayed. If you have questions about your federal research award, please contact the Office of Research.
   

We are continuing to monitor the situation closely, and we will be sure to share further information regarding any impacts we might see at CSU if the shutdown continues.

Sincerely,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President