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4d ago

Fulbright Board Resigns Over Trump Administration Interference

State Department officials have pressed on with an unauthorized review of 1,200 foreign recipients after the resignations, raising concerns over political oversight of academic exchanges.

The US Department of State is seen on January 6, 2020 in Washington, DC.
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Firefighters work at the scene of a damaged building in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS PICTURE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Overview

  • On June 11, all 12 members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board stepped down in protest of what they called illegal political meddling in the 2025–2026 award process.
  • Board members accused President Trump’s administration of overruling a yearlong, merit-based selection and revoking scholarships for a substantial number of approved candidates.
  • Despite the mass resignation, the State Department has initiated an unauthorized review of 1,200 foreign awardees that could lead to further rejections.
  • The board warned that these actions violate the Fulbright-Hays Act’s mandate to shield scholarship decisions from political influence and protect academic freedom.
  • Lawmakers and advocacy groups, led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, have condemned the intervention as part of a broader push to politicize U.S. academic institutions and scrutinize international students.