In brief
The board of the Fulbright program has stepped down in protest against alleged political interference by Trump administration appointees at the State Department, jeopardizing funding for 200 American scholars.
In a significant protest against political interference, the Fulbright board has announced its resignation, citing illegal actions by political appointees within the Trump administration. This decision comes as nearly 200 American scholars face the cancellation of their scholarships, which were previously approved for educational exchanges abroad. Board members report that the State Department began sending rejection letters to these scholars based primarily on the subjects of their research. This seemingly abrupt shift occurred despite the board's lengthy selection process concluding the previous winter, with acceptance letters due in April. In addition to domestic scholars, approximately 1,200 international scholars who planned to come to the U.S. are now having their applications reviewed under the new guidelines set by the State Department. A draft memo from the board emphasizes their unwillingness to support actions it views as not only unlawful but also detrimental to U.S. national interests and the integrity of the 80-year-old Fulbright program. The board intends to publicize its memo, which outlines their reasoning for the resignations, following the submission of their resignation letter to the White House.
