AOE Ph.D. Offer Delayed Due to Federal Funding Uncertainty

I had an interview with a professor following Graduate Recruiting Weekend for AOE program. He seemed interested in taking me on, but he just informed me that due to uncertainties with federal government funding, new project awards are pending, which could delay hiring decisions for a month or two.

I was wondering if anyone else has experienced a similar situation at VT in the past. Do these funding delays typically resolve within the expected timeframe, or could they stretch longer? Since April 15 is the deadline for most graduate program decisions, I’m also wondering if this delay could impact official admissions timelines.

Would really appreciate any insights from current Ph.D. students or faculty!

Thanks!