Scholars in limbo after US state department freezes funding for exchange programs

Scholars abroad are worried about their stipend and status after the US government froze the funding for international education and exchange programs, affecting institutions like Fulbright.

According to nonprofit association NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a 15-day temporary pause on all disbursements was issued by the government effective on Feb. 12. It was supposed to be lifted on Feb. 27, but no actions have been taken so far.  

“The freeze on State Department grant programs threatens the survival of study abroad and international exchange programs that are essential to U.S. economic and national security,” said Fanta Aw, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.  

It noted that the pause on funding has left the scholars in “a dire financial position, putting thousands of American jobs and livelihoods at risk.” 

The freezing of funds has affected institutions including Fulbright, the Gilman Scholarship program, the IDEAS program, the Critical Language Scholarship Program, and the 12,500 Americans who are set to participate in State Department programs in the next six months. 

According to Associated Press, the Fulbright Association said the pause has affected the funding for US programs hosting more than 7,400 people.  

The outlet added that based on their interviews on the affected recipients, the funding freeze has sparked panic, especially since they were left in limbo about what’s next. 

“It was very scary, I would say, not just because I am lost in another country,” Halyna Morozova, a Fulbright grant recipient from Kyiv told AP. “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.”

NAFSA said on March 12 that while some funding appears to be moving in various programs, 85% of the pending funding has not been paid.