Thread by @DrPhilGoff

1. Thread on the government shut down, research grants, and higher ed.

So, I got a call this morning letting me know that "the shutdown has hit you."

Say what now?

Turns out that money from the National Science Foundation is paid out quarterly. Here's what that means:

2. For many academic staff in the bench and social sciences, they are paid off of grants. Federal grants are often viewed as the most prestigious, which means some of the most important science pays vital staff off of federal grants. NIH, NSF, Labor, Education. All of it.

3. That means the folks working to cure cancer and the folks, like me, working to reduce urban violence often pay key personnel this way. But with the shutdown, the invoices stop being filled.

4. For rich institutions, they have enough reserves to cover the gap in funding. But for poorer institutions...

So, this morning, I found out that we will not be able to hire new staff or pay for non-salary expenses off of our NSF money until the shutdown ends.

5. If the shutdown extends for longer...we may not be able to pay existing staff. Now, to be clear, we're fine. We have other cash that covers us. But we are a rare commodity in that way. For most of my colleagues, that's it. No new hires. No travel, lab, or project expenses.