The White House named the NIH director to serve as acting CDC director while nominating the CDC’s former acting leader to head NSF, moves that immediately drew attention from university research offices. The NIH and NSF are major university research funders; the reshuffle adds uncertainty as many institute-level NIH posts remain in acting status. Science leaders at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and other organizations used their annual meeting to warn that policy disruptions and leadership churn are damaging morale and complicating long-term research planning. Attendees urged more consistent advocacy for federal research funding and clearer guidance for university grant managers. Universities should monitor potential shifts in grant priorities and staffing at federal agencies and prepare coordination channels between campus research offices and federal program officers to preserve project continuity.