The funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration on February 13, 2025, continues to affect several prominent international education programs in the U.S. Over 10,000 students and professionals, both American and international, participating in exchange programs, have had their funding cut. There is no clarity on when or if the funding will be reinstated.
The freeze, originally set to end on February 27, has been extended. Affected programs include:
- The Fulbright Scholarships
- The Gilman Scholarships
- The IDEAS Program
- The Critical Language Scholarship Program
Currently, more than 3,500 students are abroad, and 7,400 international students in the U.S. are affected. The freeze also impacts students planning to go abroad in the next six months. Many are struggling with living expenses and some have turned to food banks for meals.
The freeze also affects international education professionals working for these programs, creating job insecurity among staff.
International Education Groups Protest the Freeze
International education associations have united to urge Congress to intervene and restore funding. Dr. Fanta Aw, NAFSA’s executive director, highlighted the risk to U.S. economic and national security, stressing that halting these programs would cut off vital global exchanges, leaving a void that other nations could fill.
Mark Overmann, of the Alliance for International Exchange, emphasized the freeze’s impact on both international students and Americans abroad. He warned that it endangers the future of over 12,500 Americans in exchange programs, and jeopardizes American jobs tied to the programs.
Melissa Torres, president of the Forum on Education Abroad, said the freeze would harm students who depend on programs like the Gilman and Fulbright Scholarships, which provide access to global education for those who might not afford it otherwise.
Students and Staff Feeling the Strain
At the Association of International Education Administrators conference in Houston, attendees shared stories of the strain caused by the freeze. Administrators are scrambling to find alternative funding for students, like the Fulbright scholar who was the only Chinese-language instructor at one campus. John Sunnygard, associate provost at Western Kentucky University, expressed concern for his students who had already paid nonrefundable costs for their study abroad programs.
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