Frida Larios, a senior at California State University in Los Angeles, landed in Seoul two days after Los Angeles for a study abroad scholarship, and received an email saying her money was in range.
The State Department enacted a moratorium on grant funding in mid-February, affecting the longstanding international exchange and research aviation programs that connect Americans to the world, including the Fulbright Hayes and the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, according to several groups supporting international education.
But more than three weeks after the suspension was enacted, no one has turned on the fundraising tap again. Thousands of students and other students involved in the program are worried that they may be stuck abroad without money or not on any scheduled trips at all.
The State Department, which funds the program but does not directly control it, did not comment.
Larios went to Seoul on the Gilman Scholarship for students with limited financial means. She was expected to receive about $3,000 from the program.
“The scholarship is the only reason I was able to come abroad because I am a recipient of the Pell Grant,” Larios said. “Yes, I was shocked, but at the same time I could feel it coming.”
The confusion over the international program is a small part of the chaos that has been unleashed as the Trump administration takes x into federal spending. The administration claims it is ending unnecessary spending and identifying programs driven by left-leaning ideology. Critics say reductions and uncertainty are reducing the American influence in the world.
Melissa Torres, chairman of the Forum on Overseas Education, said even a temporary suspension of funding could “impair the ability of the sector to implement the program.”
“We're being asked by students and their families,” and what's going on? Can I go abroad? What are you doing to help my students stay abroad now? ” she added. “Unfortunately, the answer is, “We don't know.” ”
Grant recipients like Larios only received brief and vague emails from the Institute of International Education, a nonprofit that administers the Gilman and Fulbright scholarships.
“The IIE funding for the Gilman program comes from the US State Department Award,” the email said. “IIE has not received the scheduled cash refund. There is no further information at this time.”
The lab did not respond to the message on Friday.
Hannah Ferreira, a double major in psychology and political science at Middle Tennessee State University, will be studying in Austria over the summer as part of her Gilman program. But now she doesn't know where her trip stands.
“This is the first time the president's actions have affected me in this way,” Ferreira said.
Larios said he feels stuck in Seoul. She said she reached out to everyone she thought she could help at her university. She was offered a student loan and was trying to avoid it.
“Since I received that email, I've been underscored about my finances,” Larios said. “I've tried to spend as much money as possible. I literally live from ramen.”
Alan Blinder Reports of contributions.
