Notice to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Contractors-Lapse in Government Appropriations

Appropriations provided under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4) expired on September 30, 2025. On September 19, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through November 21. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate due to Democrats’ insane policy demands, which include $1 trillion in new spending. This notice is to advise the ED contractor community that ED appropriations expired September 30, 2025. As of October 1, 2025, there are no annual appropriations for the ED. If a contract is not dependent on additional appropriations, performance must continue during the lapse in funding—unless the contractor receives formal notice to the contrary. In the absence of such notification from a Contracting Officer, all ED contractors are expected to fully comply with the terms, conditions, requirements, and deliverables outlined in their contract(s). If a contract is dependent on additional appropriations, the contractor must stop all work requiring additional funding unless the contractor receives specific written notification from a Contracting Officer identifying excepted activities that must continue. Until appropriations again become available, the ED will be working with a very limited staff, so you may be contacted by another Contracting Officer within ED. During a period in which there is a lapse in appropriations contract payments may not be made. Thank you for continuing to partner with the ED, and your cooperation as we work together to manage this lapse in appropriations.