According to recent reports, a total of 12 members of the Fulbright Scholarship Board resigns from their posts this Wednesday. The resignation is their way of protesting against the Trump administration, which is accused of meddling with the selection of award recipients. If you want to know more about the entire Fulbright Scholarship Board resigning from their posts, the following article is for you. It brings you all the information we have so far, including what the statement from the board members says about the resignation and what the Department officials think about their claims.
What Did The Statement From The Fulbright Scholarship Board Members Say?
According to the statement from the Fulbright Scholarship Board members, the Trump administration seized their authority and denied awards to a substantial number of people. These were the people who had already chosen to study and teach in the United States of America or abroad. Apart from that, around 1,200 foreign award recipients who were already approved to come to the United States are also going through an unauthorized review. It further stated that Trump’s administration has ignored the Board’s request to follow the law. In case the board continues to serve, it would risk legitimizing actions they believe are unlawful. It will also damage the integrity of the program as well as America’s credibility abroad.
How Are The Fulbright Scholarship Recipients Originally Selected?
The Fulbright Scholarship program, which Congress established 80 years ago, aims to promote international exchange as well as American diplomacy. It awards over 9,000 scholarships every year to students as well as scholars, and professionals across the globe. According to the original selection process, nonpartisan staff at the State Department, as well as embassies of other countries, select the recipients of the awards. The President selects the board members who ultimately approve the selected recipients.
What Did The State Department Say About The Fulbright Scholarship Board Members?
According to a statement from the State Department, the Fulbright Scholarship board members who resigned on Wednesday were partisan political appointees. Former President of the United States, Joe Biden, appointed all 12 members of the board. The official mentioned that it is ridiculous to believe these members will continue to have a final say on the recipients of the awards. The claim that the Fulbright-Hays Act affords the final say on the applications exclusively to the board members is false. They further added that the resignation is nothing but a political stunt that aims to undermine the authority of President Trump.
Fulbright Scholarship Board Members Appeal to Future Board Members
According to the statement from the board members, the Trump administration’s meddling with the selection of recipients hampers the merit-based selection process and insulation from the political influence of the program. The former board members believe it will be unethical to value things like free speech as well as academic freedom. The board members further stated that they hope Congress, as well as the courts and future members, will prevent the administration from degrading, dismantling, or eliminating the program.
International Student Facing Scrutiny Under Trump’s Administration
These resignations come at a time when international students in the country are already under high scrutiny. The State Department has already halted the student visa interviews and is preparing for expanded social media vetting. Trump’s administration has also banned international students from attending Harvard University. International students already having a visa will also go through increased scrutiny, and the administration itself stated it’s going to revoke the visas of Chinese students. The Trump administration also tried to revoke the legal status of thousands of students, but the decision was blocked by a judge.
