A short-term shutdown of the federal government will not seriously affect funding for Harvard, University officials said yesterday.

"[The shut-down] is not directly affecting the University," said Jane H. Corlette, director of governmental relations for health policy.

Corlette and other members of the office of government, community and public affairs coordinate relations between the federal government and Harvard.

Most of the funding provided by the federal government to Harvard goes to scientific research, but the shutdown is unlikely to cause problems, Harvard scientists said.

"It's a national problem more than a University problem," said Paul C. Martin, dean of the division of applied sciences.

Martin and Corlette predicted long-term problems only if the shutdown continues indefinitely.

"Eventually [the shut-down] will affect all of the University's relationships with the government, which are largely on the research and financial aid front," Corlette said.

In the long run, Corlette said, a lack of government funding might result in layoffs in non-essential research employees.

"Research projects might be understaffed," she said. "There would be a serious problem with evaluating proposals."

Martin said that while a long-term shutdown could involve slips in funding, most research funding for scientists at Harvard is given in regular intervals and is not a day-to-day concern.

Corlette said the shutdown would not affect financial aid at Harvard for this year, but could cause problems in the long run.

Corlette said she doubted the shutdown would last long enough to affect student aid and research funding.

"We're assuming there would be no definitive problem for the University," Corlette said. "No one is assuming it will last a long time."