Update on federal policy changes

Campus Community,

We’ve pledged to keep you informed as a community as we know more regarding details and potential impacts of executive orders and other actions undertaken by President Donald Trump and his administration.

The following is what we know today and how we are working to ensure continuous and up-to-date communication with you about these issues:

• First, late yesterday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued guidance to all executive branch agencies that they should temporarily pause grant, loan or federal financial assistance programs covered under President Trump's recent executive orders and personnel actions. The pause is characterized as temporary in nature — a couple of weeks — as new leadership in executive agencies is approved and reviews programs.
• Second, the OMB has subsequently clarified that this “pause” does not extend to federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants, or student loan programs that so many of our students and families rely upon to access college.
• Third, the pause also does not extend to Medicare and Medicaid— critical programs that cover and ensure health care access for millions of Americans and many Kentuckians.
• Fourth, we are assessing how the pause and executive orders will impact federal grants and contracts for research. UK, of course, has a $500 million research enterprise and those efforts impact every corner and community of Kentucky — whether the research involves health care or horses, artificial intelligence or materials science and energy.

Specifically, the OMB directive speaks to whether grants and contracts are impacted by President Trump’s recent executive actions around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).

Our government relations, legal and research teams are evaluating these issues, even as we have worked intently to fully comply with recent court decisions in these areas around college admissions and, for example, with federal policy actions regarding hiring practices.

As we have more clarity around some of these specific issues, we will communicate with the community or with those directly impacted.

Finally, we know the flurry of activity and policy actions have raised questions. We are seeking answers and clarity as quickly as possible, while also wanting to be sure we are conveying accurate information.

To that end, we have also developed this website — where we will work to keep current information updated.

As a reminder, and as we move forward, to the extent you have specific questions or concerns:

• Employees, please communicate with your supervisors, directors, deans and unit administrators, who should elevate questions and concerns to the appropriate university leaders.
• Leaders and unit supervisors who have questions of law, specifically, should go to the General Counsel.
• Students, please reach out to our Office for Student Success.
• You can also email govquestions@uky.edu which will be forwarded to the appropriate source for responses.

Thank you for all you do to be a community that cares and one that is working each day — in so many ways — to advance the health, economy and well-being of the state we were created to serve. That mission will continue thanks to you and so many in our community who make this such a special place for Kentucky.

Eli Capilouto
President