CGS Encourages Congress to Reopen the Government and Support Funding for Graduate Education and Research
CGS Contact: Kelley Karnes
602-791-8278 / kkarnes@cgs.nche.edu
PDF version of press release
Washington, DC —The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) urges the 119th Congress to work in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to pass legislation that would reopen the federal government. A federal government shutdown affects the stability of the nation, causes a high-level of uncertainty amongst the American people, and adversely impacts our economy and global competitiveness.
With 60 percent of fundamental scientific research being conducted at the nation’s colleges and universities, Congress must act now to restore government operations and fund key federal agencies—including the Departments of Education and Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation. Federally funded grants and awards from these and other agencies are vital to the pipeline of scientific talent and ensures continued support for internships, fellowships and research opportunities for graduate students and early-career researchers.
Stable and sustained federal funding is essential for graduate students to pursue their education and for universities to remain centers of educational opportunity and academic excellence, technological innovation and a birthplace for entrepreneurship. Disruptions to fundamental research— some of it conducted by graduate students—risk undermining America’s global competitiveness and slowing scientific progress. Graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers are essential to the innovative work taking place across the country.
“It is time for Congress to come together in a bipartisan manner and pass fiscal year 2026 spending legislation so the U.S. government can reopen,” said Chevelle Newsome, CGS President. “Even a brief government shutdown will impact educational opportunities for all students, hinder research activities, and delay progress on currently funded projects.”
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About CGS
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of over 460 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through federal advocacy, research and the development and dissemination of best practices.