Latest news with #FulbrightForeignScholarshipBoard

Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 things to know for June 13: Israel-Iran, Air India crash, DOGE cuts, Immigration protests, Extreme weather
Nearly all the members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have resigned after the Trump administration denied a 'substantial number' of Fulbright awards to people who had already been selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. According to the board, which selects students, scholars, teachers and others to participate in the prestigious cultural exchange program, the government also put 1,200 other foreign Fulbright recipients under 'an unauthorized review process' that could lead to rejection from the program. The award's '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. That integrity is now undermined,' the former board members wrote in a statement. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Israel has launched an unprecedented attack on Iran that targeted its nuclear program and military. Israel's 200 fighter jets hit dozens of targets and reportedly damaged the country's primary nuclear enrichment facility. Nuclear scientists and key military leaders — including the commander-in-chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran's highest-ranking military officer and an aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — were killed. During the 'large-scale strike,' Iranian civilians reportedly felt the ground shaking and heard repeated explosions. Multiple videos showed flames and smoke billowing from buildings across Tehran. In response, Khamenei has vowed that Israel will face 'severe punishment for the attacks.' Israeli citizens have already begun to prepare by closing schools and securing medical facilities. Overnight, Iran launched over 100 drones toward Israeli territory in what is expected to be the first stage of a much larger counter-attack. At least 290 people died when an Air India jet crashed soon after departure from an airport in Ahmedabad, India, yesterday. The plane, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, was en route to London when it crashed, hitting a hostel for doctors. The death toll includes 241 passengers and crew on Flight AI171 as well as people on the ground. Only one passenger, a British national, survived. Three officials from India's National Disaster Response Force said the flight recorder had been located. According to Boeing, this was the first major incident involving a 787 Dreamliner since the aircraft entered into service in 2011. However, the aerospace giant has had to deal with numerous safety incidents in the last several years, including fatal crashes and quality issues. The GOP-led House narrowly passed some of the federal spending cuts that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) sought to make unilaterally. The vote on Thursday to cancel $9.4 billion in federal spending for foreign aid and public broadcasting looked like it was going to fail. Then, Rep. Nick LaLota of New York and Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon, both of whom had initially voted no, changed their votes in the final moments. If approved by the Senate, the legislation would cut $8.3 billion for US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs that provide humanitarian assistance, including health care, disaster aid and hunger relief. The bill would also slash $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. Full Congressional approval would codify the DOGE cuts into law so that they can't be reversed by the next administration, and would help to insulate the Trump administration from legal challenges. Hours after a district court judge ruled that President Donald Trump had unlawfully federalized thousands of members of California's National Guard and ordered him to return control of the troops to the state, the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals put that ruling on pause. California Gov. Gavin Newsom had sued Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the president called the troops into federal service to quell the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles. In his ruling, senior US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump had not satisfied any of the requirements that must be met to call up a state's National Guard and that the demonstrations did not constitute an insurrection. A panel of three judges from the 9th Circuit will hold a hearing on the issue next week. Torrential rains swept through San Antonio, Texas, on Thursday, triggering flash floods that swept away 15 vehicles and claimed the lives of at least five people. The rains were so sudden and heavy that the San Antonio River rose from about 3 feet to over 25 feet in just two hours. Ten people had to be rescued from trees and bushes about one mile from where they entered the water, a San Antonio Fire Department official said. Authorities are continuing to search for two people who are still missing. Hats off to the first American pontiff Or should we say 'hats on?' Pope Leo XIV showed his allegiance to one Chicago sports team this week by donning a baseball cap during an appearance at the Vatican. Hey look! It's a new have identified a previously unknown species that fills an early gap in the fossil record of tyrannosaurus. The 86-million-year-old dinosaur has been named Khankhuuluu mongoliensis (the 'dragon prince of Mongolia'). 'Jaws' celebrates semi-centennialIt's been 50 years since the release of the original summer blockbuster — and going to the beach hasn't been the same since. To commemorate the film's upcoming anniversary, NBC plans to air a shark-ton of 'Jaws'-related content. 'Levitating' with happinessSinger Dua Lipa is positively thrilled by the ring on her left hand, particularly since it was placed there by her new fiancé, actor Callum Turner. Great idea or gross mistake?Instant ramen maker Cup Noodles is releasing a limited edition flavor that's sure to appeal to Gen Z, young millennials and anyone who follows TikTok trends. Which popular TikTok personality left the US this week after being detained by immigration agents in Las Vegas?A. MrBeastB. Addison RaeC. Charli D'AmelioD. Khaby Lame Take me to the quiz! $3.48 millionThat's how much a collection of historic gold coins fetched at auction in Paris this week. The coins, many of which date back centuries, were recovered from the wall of a house in France after the owner died in 2024. 'Weakening the standards now is indefensible from a public health standpoint and a betrayal of EPA's mission. The agency's mission is to protect public health and the environment, not to expose people to more toxic pollution.' — American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer, on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to scrap two major federal regulations that limit air pollution and planet-warming emissions from coal and gas-fired power plants. Check your local forecast here>>> See this elusive squid for the first timeScientists captured the first live sighting of the Gonatus antarcticus from 7,000 feet below the ocean's surface.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fulbright scholarship board members resign over ‘unprecedented actions' by the Trump administration
Nearly all of the members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned on Wednesday, claiming the Trump administration is taking 'unprecedented actions' they believe are 'impermissible under the law.' The board said the Trump administration denied a 'substantial number' of Fulbright awards to people who had already been selected for the 2025-2026 academic year and included 'an unauthorized review process' for an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients who could now be rejected from the program, according to a statement posted online. '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 write. The resignations are the latest development in the saga between President Donald Trump and educational institutions that has seen the administration target colleges and universities across the country, threaten funding over political ideology and revoke scores of student visas. The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board consists of 12 members appointed by the president and was established by Congress in 1961. The members select students, scholars, teachers and others to participate in the cultural exchange program. Carmen Estrada-Schaye is the only remaining board member after the resignations, according to the Associated Press. She is also the only member currently listed on the State Department's website. CNN has reached out to the State Department for comment. The award's '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. That integrity is now undermined,' the former board members wrote in their statement. New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the move will 'change the quality of Fulbright programming.' 'While I understand and respect the bipartisan Fulbright Board for resigning en masse rather than grant credibility to a politicized and unlawful process, I'm painfully aware that yesterday's move will change the quality of Fulbright programming and the independent research that has made our country a leader in so many fields,' Shaheen said in a statement. The scholarship board said they have raised legal issues and objections with senior officials in the Trump administration on multiple occasions but claim the officials have failed to respond or attempt 'good faith efforts to course correct.' The Trump administration has recently made moves that could deter international students from studying in the US. Trump signed a proclamation earlier this month to suspend international visas for new students at Harvard University, and the State Department instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments as it moves to expand 'social media screening and vetting.' A Fulbright scholar and Columbia University student left the country after she was told she faced immigration action as part of Trump's crackdown on international students who participated in protests against the Israel-Hamas war. The Trump administration's statements and actions aimed at curtailing the number of international students in the US have already sent a chill of uncertainty through higher education institutions, and a drop-off in international students could reverberate through the US labor market and broader economy in years to come. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Entire Board Overseeing State Department Program Resigns in Trump Protest
In protest at alleged political interference from President Donald Trump's administration, all members of the U.S. State Department's Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have voted to resign, the board said on Wednesday. The board, which facilitates international educational exchanges, said in a statement released on the website Substack, that the current administration "usurped the authority of the Board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year." It added that the administration is also currently subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients to "an unauthorized review process and could reject more." "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. More to follow. Related Articles Trump Tariffs Face Delay as White House Struggles To Meet 90 Deals DeadlineDonald Trump Booed at Kennedy Center, Drowned Out By 'USA' ChantsLAPD Chief Pushes Back on Trump National Guard ClaimGOP Senator Accuses Trump Of 'Petty Vindictiveness' After White House Snub 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.


Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned en masse: Here's why
At least 11 out of the 12 members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have resigned en masse to protest 'unprecedented interference' from Trump adminstration officials, they claimed in a statement on Substack. The statement posted on June 11 titled 'Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board Resignation Statement', said that members of the board voted to resign 'rather than endorse unprecedented actions that … compromise national interests and integrity'. Notably, AP reported that one board member has not joined the mass resignation. Board members Carmen Estrada-Schaye told the agency, 'I was appointed by the president of the United States and I intend to fill out my term.' According to the statement, the Trump administration denied a number of US academics from receiving the prestigious awards and has rejected scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Further, they alleged 'unauthorized review' of 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients. As per the New York Times, which broke the story, US State Department officials have cancelled Fulbright scholarships for nearly 200 US professors and researchers at universities and research centers abroad. The board alleges that the current administration has usurped the authority of the board in contradiction to Fulbright mission and the values, including free speech and academic freedom. When US Congress established the Fulbright scholarship program, the board was given final approval over applicants, and screening by nonpartisan career staff at the State Department. It added that over 35 foreign governments match or exceed the US contributions to the program. The board added that its written objections to senior administration officials failed to receive a response and to 'continue to serve … would risk legitimising actions we believe are unlawful and damage the integrity of this storied program and America's credibility abroad'. A US State Department official, in statements to the media, dismissed the mass resignation as politically motivated. They also disputed claims of board independence and said that it has final say over applications. '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 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 said. '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,' they added. The AP reported noted that besides Estrada-Schaye, 11 of the board members were selected under former US President Joe Biden. 'Effective immediately, members of the Congressionally mandated Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board voted overwhelmingly to resign from the board, 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. At the program's inception, Congress clearly specified that the Fulbright Board has final approval authority of applicants, which occurs after an exhaustive and deliberate, year-long process led by non-partisan career staff at the State Department and Embassies around the world. The process involves 49 binational, treaty-based commissions and over 150 countries, which contribute a significant amount of the annual funding for the Fulbright program. In fact, 35+ foreign governments match or exceed the U.S. government's annual contribution. Under Democratic and Republican administrations alike, the Board has followed the law, operating with independence pursuant to its statutory mandate. Indeed, the Fulbright-Hays Act emphasizes the non-political and non-ideological character of the program. However, the current administration has usurped the authority of the Board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year. The administration is also currently subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients to an unauthorized review process and could reject more. 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. It is worth noting that the awards that were overridden include studies in categories such as biology, engineering, architecture, agriculture, crop sciences, animal sciences, biochemistry, medical sciences, music, and history. Through generations of war and peace, the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program has been a bipartisan pillar of American diplomacy—an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to mutual understanding and diplomacy, academic excellence, and international cooperation. It has promoted U.S. interests and global stability. Fulbright alumni have gone on to become leaders of government, industry, academia, arts, and culture in every part of the world. Members of Congress of both parties tout the prestige and economic benefits bestowed upon their home state colleges and universities who support such distinguished students and alumni. 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. That integrity is now undermined. We have raised these legal issues and our strong objections with senior administration officials on multiple occasions, including in writing. The officials have refused to acknowledge or respond to the Board, failing to even attempt good faith efforts to course correct and operate the Program in accordance with the statute. 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. Indeed, the erosion of the Fulbright program weakens America and our national security interests. Institutions and the rule of law matter and have distinguished our country for almost 250 years. As a Board, we are proud of our stewardship of the program, the way we've worked to uphold its mission, integrity, and adherence to the law. 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. Injecting politics and ideological mandates into the Fulbright program violates the letter and spirit of the law that Congress so wisely established nearly eight decades ago.' Established around 80 years back, in 1946, to promote international exchange and American diplomacy, the Fulbright Scholarship is a highly selective program that awards close to 9,000 scholarships annually in the US and over 160 other countries to students, scholars, and professionals in a range of fields. Sponsored by the US Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) it was established under legislation introduced by late Senator J William Fulbright, of Arkansas. According to the Fulbright website, its alumni include 62 Nobel prize winners and 93 Pulitzer recipients. Some notable alumni include King Felipe VI of Spain; Luc Frieden, prime minister of Luxembourg; Leslie Voltaire, president of Haiti's transitional presidential council; and Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh. The United States–India Educational Foundation (USIEF) administers the Fulbright Program in India, according to the US Embassy in India website. It added that India's program 'is one of the largest with more than 350 fellowships granted annually'. Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration and foreign students in the US is likely to impact 'thousands' of Indian students. Sanjog Anand, co-founder of Rostrum Education told Business Standard in May, 'India has become the leading source of international students in the US. More than 331,600 Indian students were enrolled in the US during the 2023–24 academic year, making up nearly 30 per cent of the international student body.' (With inputs from Bloomberg and AP)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
The Fulbright board has resigned after accusing Trump of political meddling
The entire board that oversaw the prestigious Fulbright scholarship program under the State Department has resigned in protest of what its members say is the Trump administration's meddling in its affairs. The alleged meddling is the latest sign of how President Donald Trump is trying to politicize and censor what should be the most uncontroversial functions of government. The Fulbright program is the federal government's premier international educational exchange program. It offers thousands of highly competitive grants every year for Americans to study, teach and conduct research all over the world, and it also offers grants for foreigners to study and research in the U.S. The bill that created it, which became law in the aftermath of World War II and was named after Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, called for proceeds from the sales of surplus war property to fund the 'promotion of international good will through the exchange of students in the fields of education, culture, and science.' The Fulbright scholarship program has long served as an uncontroversial instrument of American soft power and a way to cultivate cosmopolitanism among America's high-performing students, artists and professionals. It hasn't been viewed as partisan. Until now, apparently. The Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board released a statement on Wednesday explaining that it had 'voted overwhelmingly to resign from the board,' rather than endorse unprecedented actions that they 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 statement explains that the law creating the Fulbright program 'clearly specified that the Fulbright Board has final approval authority of applicants' and alleges that the Trump administration 'has usurped the authority of the Board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected for the 2025-2026 academic year.' It also claims that the administration is 'injecting politics and ideological mandates' into its approach to the program and 'currently subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign Fulbright recipients to an unauthorized review process.' The statement declares that '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 New York Times, which first reported on the mass resignation, said that the State Department had not replied to a request for comment. The nature and veracity of the board's allegations have not yet been confirmed. But we do know that, in general, the Trump administration has openly sought to apply ideological litmus tests tied to issues like diversity and inclusion, and criticism of Israel, to law firms, universities and public cultural institutions, including museums. It has also sought to create new de factro ideological tests for citizenship by attempting to deport legal immigrants on the basis of constitutionally protected speech. Trump is relentlessly encroaching upon independent institutions and free speech. It's sad to watch as his politicization project may be extending into straightforward scholarship programs. This article was originally published on