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Last week current EPA STAR Fellows received an email from the EPA stating that the federal budget sequestration would be affecting existing grant and fellowship agreements. The EPA has taken a siginificant hit to its budget due to the sequester, and this will likely affect new grant and fellowship awards as well. Current fellows have still not received any details as to how the sequester will affect us -- only a generalized letter promising a later follow-up. I have contacted my project officer, but have heard nothing. In my own research, I located a letter from Lisa Jackson to Congress regarding probable impacts of the sequester on the EPA budget and programs. The letter is dated February 6, 2013 and can be found online by googling "EPA sequester Jackson." In it, she states that the EPA would, under sequestration, reduce the number of STAR and GRO fellowships, "thus eliminating any new fellowships." Last year STAR Fellows were notified at the end of April -- rejections were sent out earlier that month. Given the current budget crisis, I would anticipate a lengthier wait this year as well as the possibility of a reduction in the number of new awards. I think it's also a very real possibility that there may not be new awards granted this year if Congress doesn't pass a budget and the sequestration remains in place through the end of the fiscal year (September.)