"As the federal government shutdown entered its first day Wednesday, higher education leaders warned of mounting consequences for students and research institutions, even as the U.S. Education Department moves to maintain core financial aid operations.

The shutdown will furlough approximately 87% of the Education Department's workforce and halt investigations into civil rights complaints at schools and universities, according to the department's contingency plan. New federal grant awards will also cease, though previously disbursed funding will continue flowing to institutions.

'The government shutdown may have far-reaching negative impacts across federal agencies and public research universities,' said Dr. Waded Cruzado, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. 'The longer this impasse lasts, the more devastating the impacts will be. The clock is ticking,'" reports The EDU Ledger.

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