Funding cuts to the Fulbright Program have left scholars around the world scrambling to cover basic expenses as the U.S. State Department implements cost-saving measures under the President Donald Trump administration.
Payments for educational and cultural exchange participants have been disrupted, leaving many in limbo.
Now, as uncertainty spreads, scholars find themselves stranded mid-program, facing visa complications, housing insecurity and the possibility of abandoning their work entirely.
In February, the U.S. State Department temporarily halted spending to evaluate its programs and activities, as reported by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers, an association of international educators.
This pause affected initiatives like the Fulbright Program and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
Since the implementation of the pause, scholars and advocacy groups have reported that grant funding has stopped, with no clear communication from U.S. officials on whether or when it will resume.
Fulbright grant recipient Aubrey Lay says he has enough savings to get by for another month, but he worries about those without a financial cushion.
“The clarity I’ve gotten is that nobody knows what’s going on,” he told the Associated Press.
Lay is a teaching assistant for Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, who had been expecting three months of funding.
“Every time I’ve asked, they don’t know what’s happening, and they’re just as confused as I am, as we all are.”
He’s not alone. According to the Associated Press, thousands of scholars are in the same position, left uncertain about their future.
In a recent newsletter, the Fulbright Association, a nonprofit alumni group, reported that the funding freeze affects “over 12,500 American students, youth and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to participate in State Department programs in the next six months.”
For nearly eight decades, Fulbright has fostered global connections by providing fellowships and scholarships to students, researchers and professionals in partnership with over 160 countries.
The program’s mission includes education as well as strengthening crosscultural relationships through academic collaboration, contributing to U.S. diplomatic efforts.
The financial strain caused by the federal funding freeze isn’t just hitting Fulbright scholars—it’s rippling through some of the nation’s top universities.
Harvard University, the University of Washington and the University of Pittsburgh are among the latest institutions to implement hiring freezes, bracing for the impact of potential cuts to federal research support.
“The lack of clarity and uncertainty concerning future federal research support means loss of opportunity to American science,” Tobin, “Toby” Smith, senior vice president for government relations and public policy at the Association of American Universities, said.
“There will be fewer job offers to new researchers and fewer offers of admission to Ph.D. candidates.”
Harvard, home to the world’s largest university endowment, is tightening its budget.
In a statement, Harvard President Alan Garber cited “substantial financial uncertainties driven by rapidly shifting federal policies,” announcing cost-cutting measures such as scrutinizing discretionary spending and reviewing multiyear commitments.
Other universities are following suit, warning that without clear guidance on federal funding, faculty hiring, research opportunities and even local economies could take a serious hit.
The funding freeze continues to raise broader concerns about the future of international academic collaboration and the U.S.’s commitment to global diplomacy.
