Two weeks into the federal government shutdown, researchers and colleges report growing harm as agency staffers are furloughed or laid off and grant approvals stall. Universities say inability to reach program officers and delayed agency actions are jeopardizing project timelines, collaborations, and near‑term spending plans tied to federal awards. Higher‑ed associations warn that continued disruption could force labs to pause work, slow hiring, and imperil multi‑year studies. Federally funded researchers depend on agency partners to clear human‑subjects reviews, release funds, and manage compliance; the shutdown has interrupted those channels. Institutions are urging Congress and the administration to restore agency operations quickly to limit long‑term damage to research pipelines, grad‑student support, and externally funded innovation.