All twelve members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board have resigned in protest of actions taken by the Trump administration regarding the country’s foreign student system, which affects colleges and universities across the United States.
In a letter announcing their resignations, the board stated that members had voted overwhelmingly to step down rather than endorse actions they believed were illegal, contrary to U.S. national interests, and in violation of the Fulbright program’s mission, which Congress established nearly 80 years ago.
The board emphasized that it has consistently followed legal protocols under both Democratic and Republican administrations. “Throughout both Democratic and Republican administrations, the Board has adhered to the law, functioning independently in accordance with its statutory responsibilities,” the letter said. The board added that the Fulbright-Hays Act is designed to keep the program non-political and non-ideological.
However, the board claimed the Trump administration overstepped by denying Fulbright awards to a large number of scholars selected for the 2025–2026 academic year and subjecting an additional 1,200 foreign recipients to an unauthorized review process, potentially rejecting more. “These actions not only contradict the statute but are fundamentally opposed to the Fulbright mission and the values Congress outlined, including free speech and academic freedom,” the board said.
Board members also noted that they had repeatedly raised legal objections to senior administration officials, including in writing, but that their concerns were largely ignored. They called on Congress, the courts, and future Fulbright Boards to protect the program from political interference or attempts to dismantle it.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has cited national security concerns as justification for its actions. Earlier this month, Chengxuan Han, a Chinese national and visiting scholar at the University of Michigan, was arrested attempting to smuggle biological materials into the United States. Authorities said Han sent packages containing nematode growth medium and plasmids to lab members, posing a risk to public safety and research integrity.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon Jr. and FBI officials described the incident as part of a broader trend that threatens U.S. security and undermines trust in the nation’s research institutions. Reports from other universities, such as Stanford, have also highlighted alleged Chinese funding, espionage networks, and transnational repression, raising further concerns about the safety and integrity of academic programs.
The resignations of all twelve Fulbright Board members underscore a growing tension between maintaining international educational exchanges and addressing national security risks, highlighting the delicate balance between academic freedom and government oversight.
