The resignation of the Fulbright program board due to political meddling by Trump aides raises fears about the future of international educational exchange.
Fulbright Board Resignation Signals Serious Concerns Over Political Interference
Fulbright Board Resignation Signals Serious Concerns Over Political Interference
The board members are departing in protest against the Trump administration's alleged interference in scholarship awards.
The board members of the renowned Fulbright program, dedicated to fostering international educational exchanges, took a bold step on Wednesday by announcing their resignation in response to what they describe as unwarranted political interference from the Trump administration. According to a memo obtained by The New York Times, this drastic decision stems from widespread concern that political appointees at the State Department, which oversees the Fulbright program, are illegally revoking scholarships meant for nearly 200 American professors and researchers.
These scholars were set to conduct work at various universities and research institutions abroad this summer after having been approved through a rigorous selection process held over the past year. The State Department was expected to dispatch acceptance letters by April but instead began sending out rejection letters, allegedly guided by the scholars’ research topics, as relayed by several board members, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire.
The board is also troubled by the State Department's ongoing review of 1,200 applications from foreign scholars, already pre-approved by the board, who were poised to arrive in the U.S. By April, these scholars were also due to receive acceptance notifications. In a draft memo, the board expressed its collective refusal to endorse actions that they believe violate legal guidelines, compromise U.S. national interests and undermine the mission of the Fulbright program established by Congress nearly 80 years ago.
The board's memo is set to be made public following the submission of their resignation letter to the White House, indicating a firm stand against what they interpret as unprecedented acts that threaten the integrity and ethos of the esteemed Fulbright program.
