Fulbright Board Resignation Sparks Concerns Over Trump Administration's Political Interference

The Fulbright Program, renowned for fostering international academic exchanges, is facing a crisis as its board of twelve members announced their resignation in response to alleged political interference from the Trump administration. According to a draft memo shared with The New York Times, the board members claimed that political appointees within the State Department acted unlawfully by canceling scholarships for nearly 200 American faculty and researchers who were set to participate in overseas educational programs this summer.

The decision to withdraw scholarships came after the board approved these candidates following a rigorous yearlong selection process. Typically, acceptance letters would have been distributed by April, but instead, the office of public diplomacy at the State Department sent rejection letters, reportedly based on the scholars' research topics. This unexpected turn prompted significant concern among the board, which includes notable figures like Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Affected scholars were looking forward to engaging in vital research and educational work outside the United States.

Furthermore, the board's memo indicates that the State Department is also reevaluating applications from around 1,200 foreign scholars already granted acceptance to participate in the program, a move they deem intertwined with the same political motivations affecting the American participants. The board expressed that they cannot endorse actions they consider illegal and detrimental to U.S. interests and the Fulbright program's longstanding mission, established nearly 80 years ago. As a result, the resignation letter was dispatched to the White House, marking a significant protest against what they perceive as overreach and misconduct within federal educational policies.