All 12 members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned on Tuesday, citing what they describe as unlawful political interference by the Trump administration. In an open letter, the board accused the administration of usurping its authority by denying “a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025–26 academic year” and subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign scholars’ grants to an unauthorized review process.
These actions, the board said, undermine the Fulbright Program’s mission of promoting academic freedom and international exchange.
The resignations come amid widespread tensions between the Trump administration and academic institutions. The administration has proposed significant budget cuts to the Fulbright Program, reducing funding from $691 million to $50 million. Additionally, the State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio, has implemented new visa restrictions and launched investigations into 45 universities, actions critics argue politicize educational and cultural exchange programs.
CNBC has additional details:
“We believe these actions not only contradict the statute but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom, that Congress specified in the statute,” the board said.
Jed Katz, the chair of the board and managing director of Javelin Venture Partners, referred CNBC to the statement when asked about his and the other members’ resignations.
Like every other member of the board, Katz was appointed to the panel by former President Joe Biden.
The other board members who resign include people who served in Biden’s administration, among them Mala Adiga, who was a deputy assistant to Biden, former White House deputy chief of staff Jen O’Malley Dillon, who chaired Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, and former Biden speechwriter Vinay Reddy.
Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program facilitates about 8,000 academic and professional exchanges annually across more than 160 countries. It is widely regarded as a cornerstone of U.S. soft diplomacy. The board’s mass resignation underscores concerns among progressives that recent administrative actions threaten the program’s integrity and the nation’s commitment to international academic collaboration.
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How about ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR AMERICAN BORN STUDENTS FOR A CHANGE?
I think that American taxpayers’ are getting a bit tired of EDUCATING THE WORLD with US tax dollars while NEGLECTING AMERICAN BORN STUDENTS i the process
LOVE IT!!!
Why is it not automatic that resignations are to be submitted at the end of every administration change? These are obviously political appointments, not merit appointments. That does not mean that some board members may not receive (re)appointment by the next administration …
Victory Hooray
Awesome
So how is reducing funds going to affect freedom of speech? My opinion is that reduction of funds reduces their income.