The entire Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has resigned en masse, citing unacceptable interference from the Trump administration in the scholarship selection process. In a powerful statement released Wednesday, the 12-member board accused the State Department of rejecting a significant number of individuals already chosen for the 2025-2026 academic year. This shocking development raises serious concerns about the politicization of academic merit and the future of the prestigious Fulbright program.
The board’s statement, published on Substack, alleges that the administration’s actions are not only illegal, contradicting the established statute governing the program, but also fundamentally undermine the core values of the Fulbright program. These values, explicitly enshrined in the program’s legislation, include academic freedom and free speech. The board further claims that an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients are currently undergoing an unauthorized review process, with the potential for further rejections.
Board chair Jed Katz directed inquiries to the official statement, while the State Department has yet to respond to requests for comment. The resignations, initially reported by The New York Times, represent a significant challenge to the integrity and independence of the Fulbright program. The scale of the alleged interference—affecting both domestic and international scholars—is particularly alarming.
This unprecedented action by the entire board underscores the gravity of the situation. It raises questions about the Trump administration’s motives and the potential chilling effect on future applicants who may now fear political bias in the scholarship selection process. The implications extend beyond the immediate impact on affected scholars, threatening the reputation and future of a program long celebrated for its contribution to international understanding and academic excellence. This is a developing story, and we will continue to update as more information becomes available. The situation demands close scrutiny and swift action to restore the integrity and independence of the Fulbright program.
