Frida Larios, a senior at California State University, Los Angeles, received an unsettling email just two days after arriving in Seoul for a study-abroad scholarship. The email informed her that her funding was in jeopardy.
The State Department's decision to enact a funding pause on grants in mid-February has thrown longstanding international exchange and study-abroad programs into disarray. These programs, including the Fulbright-Hays and Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship programs, connect Americans to the world.
The funding pause has left thousands of students and program participants in a state of uncertainty. They are worried about being stranded abroad without financial support or having their scheduled trips canceled altogether.
Despite being the source of funding for these programs, the State Department has not provided any official comment on the situation. The lack of communication has further heightened the anxiety and frustration among those affected.
7 Comments
Coccinella
How can the U.S. expect to build meaningful relationships abroad when funding programs disappear overnight?
ZmeeLove
While this sounds frustrating, we should understand that budget concerns sometimes require tough choices.
Muchacho
The lack of clarity has turned profound educational opportunities into stressful nightmares!
Africa
No one wants to harm students intentionally. Hopefully, clearer information will come soon.
Comandante
Managing finances on a global level is complex; it's understandable that tough decisions are occasionally made.
Michelangelo
The State Department's silence doesn't necessarily imply negligence—proper communication may take some time.
Raphael
We should probably wait for the State Department to clarify what's actually going on before jumping to conclusions.