All 12 members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board resigned, citing unprecedented political interference in recipient selection by the State Department, directed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They claimed this intervention is illegal and unethical, undermining the board's independence. Previous administrations allowed the board to operate autonomously. This year, over 20% of the selected finalists were rejected, particularly proposals concerning climate change and gender disparities, demonstrating the restrictive effects of the current administration's policies on academic freedoms and research priorities.
Under Democratic and Republican administrations alike, the Board has followed the law, operating with independence pursuant to its statutory mandate.
The current administration has usurped the authority of the Board and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals who were selected.
The State Department's unprecedented intervention in the selection process was illegal and unethical and compromised national diplomatic and research interests.
Sources revealed State Department officials ultimately rejected more than 20 percent of the FFSB's selected finalists in a last-minute intervention.
#fulbright-scholarship #political-interference #resignation #academic-independence #state-department
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