WASHINGTON: Thousands of Fulbright scholars worldwide have been left stranded following abrupt funding cuts by the US State Department, with many facing financial uncertainty and struggling to meet basic expenses.
The cuts, implemented as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce government spending, have disrupted payments for recipients of long-established educational and cultural exchange programmes.
Aubrey Lay, a Fulbright grant recipient working as a teaching assistant for Ukrainian refugees in Estonia, was due to receive funding for three months.
However, he has only been paid for one week, with no clarity on when—or if—the remainder will be disbursed.
Lay, as cited by the Associated Press, expressed frustration over the lack of communication from US officials.
“The clarity that I’ve gotten is that nobody knows what’s going on,” he said. “Every time I’ve asked anybody, they don’t know what’s happening, and they are just as confused as I am, as we all are.”
The Fulbright programme, established in 1946, has long been a cornerstone of US international engagement, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and academic collaboration.
The recent suspension of funding has sparked widespread concern among scholars and advocacy groups.
Crisis for exchange programmes
According to NAFSA, an association of international educators, the funding pause was introduced in February as part of a State Department review of its programmes and activities.
This has affected not only Fulbright but also the Gilman and Critical Language scholarships, among others.
The Fulbright Association, a nonprofit organisation representing alumni, estimates that over 12,500 American students, youth, and professionals currently abroad or scheduled to participate in the next six months have been impacted.
In addition, more than 7,400 international scholars hosted by US institutions have also seen their funding suspended.
The situation is particularly dire for those who lack alternative financial resources.
Lay noted that while he could manage for another month, others might not be as fortunate. “I don’t want to be one more thing that is changing and uncertain in [my students’] lives,” he said. “I can’t bear that thought.”
Panic among scholars
The funding freeze has left many scholars in limbo, unsure of how they will cover their living expenses or whether they will be able to continue their research and teaching.
Halyna Morozova, a Fulbright scholar from Kyiv who teaches Ukrainian at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, recalled the moment she received an alarming email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), the body that administers the scholarship.
“IIE is currently authorised to send you a partial stipend equivalent to one week of your anticipated upcoming stipend payment,” the email stated. “We will update you on future payments as soon as possible.”
Morozova, who typically receives a monthly stipend of $750, found herself suddenly forced to survive on just $187.50.
“It was very scary,” she said. “We don’t know if we will ever get another stipend here, and if they have enough money to buy our tickets home. So there are a lot of things that are not clear and not certain.”
The funding cuts have placed universities hosting these scholars in a difficult position. Olga Bezhanova, a professor managing Morozova and two other grant recipients, described the situation as unprecedented.
“I have to look into the faces of these wonderful people, and they’re asking me: ‘Is this America? What is this?’” she said. “This is a mess.”
The cuts are part of a wider restructuring of US government spending under President Donald Trump’s administration.
The White House has instructed federal agencies to prepare for widespread layoffs, known as reductions in force, which could further affect funding for educational and cultural programmes.
The State Department has not publicly clarified whether the funding suspension is temporary or part of a long-term policy shift.
