Trump Administration’s Interference Forces Mass Resignation of Fulbright Board Members

Members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have overwhelmingly resigned, citing “unprecedented actions” by the Trump administration as impermissible under the law. These actions include the denial of numerous Fulbright awards for the 2025-2026 academic year and an unauthorized review process affecting over 1,200 foreign recipients. Such interference contradicts the core values of free speech and academic freedom integral to the Fulbright mission.

The board, established by Congress in 1961, typically selects students and scholars for a prestigious cultural exchange program based on merit rather than political ideology. However, the integrity of this program is now threatened, with only one member, Carmen Estrada-Schaye, remaining after the resignations. This politicization undermines the essential mission of promoting educational opportunities and cultural exchanges globally.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern that this move would significantly diminish the quality of Fulbright programming. The former board members voiced that they had previously raised legal objections to the Trump administration’s actions, yet met with silence from officials who show no willingness to rectify the situation.

In addition to the Fulbright board issues, the Trump administration has implemented a range of policies that threaten international students’ privileges in the U.S., including a recent proclamation suspending international student visas at Harvard University. This aggressive approach not only chills international educational exchange but also jeopardizes the future of American higher education’s global standing and directly impacts the labor market.

As educational institutions across the nation bear the brunt of these changes, the ramifications extend beyond academia, potentially destabilizing the economy. Trump’s ongoing assault on educational integrity and international collaboration further solidifies his administration’s alignment with an authoritarian agenda, hostile to democratic values and the diverse influx of global talent that has historically enriched American society.

(h/t: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/12/politics/fulbright-scholarship-board-resign-trump)