Entire Fulbright board resigns, citing Trump administration interference
All members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned Wednesday, citing alleged political interference by members of the Trump administration.
In a statement posted to Substack, the dozen former board members said they 'voted overwhelmingly' to resign 'rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we believe are impermissible under the law, compromise U.S. national interests and integrity, and undermine the mission and mandates Congress established for the Fulbright program nearly 80 years ago.'
The prestigious program — which awards a select group of scholars and academics the opportunity to continue research abroad each year — is managed by the State Department, where career officials conduct a yearlong search for applicants, who are ultimately approved by the independent Fulbright board.
But the former board members said the Trump administration 'has usurped the authority of the Board' by denying Fulbright scholarships to 'a substantial number of individuals' selected for the upcoming academic year.
They said among the individuals whose awards have been revoked include those intending to pursue studies in biology, engineering, architecture, agriculture, crop sciences, animal sciences, biochemistry, medical sciences, music and history.
The former board members also said administration officials are conducting 'an unauthorized review process' of an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients, which, they said, could lead to rejections of more awards.
'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,' they wrote.
The former board members touted the program's long-standing bipartisan support, describing the program as 'a bipartisan pillar of American diplomacy' and 'an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to mutual understanding and diplomacy, academic excellence, and international cooperation.'
'This proud legacy has depended on one thing above all: the integrity of the program's selection process based on merit, not ideology, and its insulation from political interference,' they wrote. 'That integrity is now undermined.'
The former board members said they have repeatedly raised their legal concerns and 'strong objections' with senior administration officials, who they said 'have refused to acknowledge or respond' to their concerns.
'Our resignation is not a decision we take lightly. But to continue to serve after the Administration has consistently ignored the Board's request that they follow the law would risk legitimizing actions we believe are unlawful and damage the integrity of this storied program and America's credibility abroad,' they wrote. 'Indeed, the erosion of the Fulbright program weakens America and our national security interests.'
'It is our sincere hope that Congress, the courts, and future Fulbright Boards will prevent the administration's efforts to degrade, dismantle, or even eliminate one of our nation's most respected and valuable programs,' the former members added.
The White House defended the administration's involvement.
'President Trump, not the Fulbright Board, was elected by the American people to ensure all foreign policy initiatives align with our national interests,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.
A senior State Department official echoed that sentiment and pushed back against the claim that the Fulbright board has always been nonpartisan.
'The 12 members of the Fulbright Board were partisan political appointees of the Biden Administration. It's ridiculous to believe that these members would continue to have final say over the application process, especially when it comes to determining academic suitability and alignment with President Trump's Executive Orders,' the official said in a statement.
'The claim that the Fulbright Hayes Act affords exclusive and final say over Fulbright Applications to the Fulbright board is false. This is nothing but a political stunt attempting to undermine President Trump,' the official added.
Updated at 4:25 p.m. EDT
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