International education associations in the United States are calling on the government to restore funding for study abroad, exchange, and scholarship programs managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) after a temporary funding freeze was announced in mid-February. The pause, which was initially set to last 15 days, has remained in place beyond its expected end date.
On February 13th, recipients of State Department grant funding were informed of a 15-day pause on all payments, effective from February 12th. The pause was scheduled to expire on February 27th, but as of March 4th, no action has been taken to lift the suspension.
Coalition Forms to Advocate for Restoration of Funding
The NAFSA Association of International Educators, the Alliance for International Exchange, and the Forum of Education Abroad have united in a lobbying effort to restore the funding. The associations argue that the funding freeze has effectively halted key international education and exchange programs, including prominent initiatives such as the Fulbright Program, the Gilman Scholarship Program, the IDEAS Program, and the Critical Language Scholarship Program. This situation has disrupted the lives of thousands of American students both at home and abroad, along with some scholarship recipients in the United States.
Fanta Aw, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators, which represents over 10,000 industry professionals across 3,500 global institutions, highlighted the importance of these programs. She warned that the funding freeze threatens the survival of these essential international exchange opportunities, which play a critical role in U.S. economic and national security. “Halting inbound and outbound exchanges shuts the United States off from a vital flow of ideas, innovation, and global understanding and influence,” she said. “These are programs for which Congress has authorized and appropriated funds. We urge Congress to use its authority to intervene.”
Impact on Students, Scholars, and Organizations
Mark Overmann, Executive Director of the Alliance for International Exchange, which represents over 90 organizations involved in inbound and outbound exchange programs, emphasized the significant impact the freeze has on American students abroad. Over 12,500 Americans are currently overseas or scheduled to travel soon. He noted that the suspension also affects more than 7,400 young people, students, and professionals from around the world who are participating in U.S.-hosted exchange programs.
“The many U.S. organizations that support these programs and their participants are now in a dire financial position, putting thousands of American jobs and livelihoods at risk,” Overmann added. He further explained that about 90% of the State Department’s exchanges budget is allocated to American participants or activities within the United States, making the freeze a direct threat to U.S. interests.
Calls for Immediate Restoration of Funding
Both associations argue that restoring funding for ECA programs is crucial for maintaining the United States’ global influence and fostering international partnerships. As Fanta Aw put it, suspending these programs would have the opposite effect of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s goal of making “America safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
With the future of these programs at risk, the advocacy groups are urging Congress to intervene immediately to reinstate funding, ensuring that U.S. students, scholars, and international exchange participants can continue to benefit from these vital educational opportunities.
