Aubrey Lay, a Fulbright scholar, faced an unexpected financial setback when he received payment for only one week of work from his teaching assistantship at a Ukrainian refugee school in Estonia, despite being promised three months. This situation has left Lay, along with numerous other scholars worldwide dependent on State Department funding, in a state of uncertainty. These scholars participate in well-established programs such as Fulbright and have had their payments abruptly interrupted without clear communication on when, or if, the funds will resume. This move aligns with the White House’s strategy to significantly cut government spending, impacting various federal agencies.
The situation is only set to intensify, as President Donald Trump has instructed agencies to prepare for potential widespread layoffs, known as reductions in force, which will likely lead to limited operations in agencies providing essential services. The funding freeze has triggered alarm among thousands of scholars stranded away from their home countries, lacking the assurance of financial support to sustain their programs.
In February, the U.S. State Department paused funding to reassess its programs and activities, a decision that affected initiatives such as Fulbright. Since the implementation of this pause, funds for various grants have dried up, leaving scholars and advocacy groups without updates from U.S. officials regarding any changes. The State Department chose not to comment on the funding freeze when approached over the weekend.
Lay expressed concern over the absence of communication from U.S. officials, particularly regarding a program that has a history long cherished by his family. Established in 1946, Fulbright has been pivotal for U.S. governmental cross-cultural engagement aims. “I don’t want to be another element of uncertainty in their lives,” Lay remarked. He acknowledged he could manage for another month financially, but fears for colleagues lacking savings. “Nobody seems to know what’s happening, not even those I’ve asked for clarity,” he stated, emphasizing the widespread confusion.
The Fulbright Association, a nonprofit comprising alumni, reported that upheaval in funding affects over 12,500 American participants involved in State Department ventures globally in the upcoming six months. Beyond U.S. citizens, the interruption has influenced over 7,400 individuals hosted by U.S. programs.
Halyna Morozova, a Fulbright scholar from Kyiv, was left anxious after receiving an email from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which oversees the Fulbright scholarship, while at the airport. The email indicated she would receive only a partial stipend of $187.50, a fraction of the typical $750 monthly allowance, with future disbursements uncertain. “Being in a foreign country without clear financial support is unsettling,” Morozova lamented. Her concerns extend to not knowing if funds will cover her return travel home.
Olga Bezhanova, a professor managing Morozova and other scholars at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, expressed distress over the interruption of a program integral to the university’s language education for nearly two decades. She is exploring whether the university can bridge the financial gap left by the federal government’s withholding of funds. “Facing these wonderful individuals who ask, ‘Is this America?’ is disheartening,” she said, describing the current situation as chaotic.
