Educators urge restoration of US study abroad grants amid suspension

The freeze on State Department's grant programs "threatens the survival of study abroad and international exchange programs that are essential to U.S. economic and national security," said Fanta Aw, CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a non-profit organization for professionals in international education.

The State Department announced last month a temporary 15-day suspension of federal grant funding for study abroad scholarships and government exchange programs.

This pause affects major initiatives, including the Fulbright Program, IDEAS Program, Gilman Scholarship, and Critical Languages Scholarships.

Initially intended as a short-term freeze starting Feb. 12, the suspension has continued beyond its expected end date, leaving programs without financial support and an uncertain future.

"Halting inbound and outbound exchanges shuts the United States off from a vital flow of ideas, innovation, and global understanding and influence, creating a vacuum that could easily be filled by competing nations," Aw stated in a Monday report on NAFSA's website.

He emphasized that these programs are both authorized and funded by Congress, urging lawmakers to intervene.

The State Department notified stakeholders about the funding suspension on Feb. 13, but no formal explanation has been provided. The indefinite pause has disrupted international education and exchange initiatives, professional development programs, and youth-focused efforts, leaving thousands of students and educators in limbo.

In an interview with The PIE News, Mark Overmann, executive director of the Alliance for International Exchange, warned that the freeze "endangers the health, safety, and future of the more than 12,500 Americans who are either abroad right now or soon will be and damages our relationships with current and future leaders from around the world."

He also highlighted the economic impact, noting that 90% of the State Department’s exchange budget directly benefits Americans or is spent domestically.

Melissa Torres, CEO of the Forum on Education Abroad, cautioned that the funding freeze could be a "huge step backward" for the country's global competitiveness.

Beyond expanding global education access, these programs enhance language proficiency and cultural awareness within the U.S. workforce, she told The PIE.

NAFSA, the Forum on Education Abroad, and the Alliance for International Exchange are urging Congress to restore funding immediately and continue to update stakeholders on the shifting policy landscape under the Trump administration.