Every member of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has resigned, citing President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the foreign student system as the cause. In a letter released Wednesday, the board said it “voted overwhelmingly” to step down rather than support what they called “unprecedented actions” by the administration. These actions, the board argued, violate the law, compromise U.S. national interests, and undermine the nearly 80-year mission of the Fulbright program, which has historically operated with bipartisan support and independence. They claim the current administration has overstepped its authority by denying Fulbright awards to many selected for the 2025–2026 academic year and subjecting 1,200 recipients to an unauthorized review process, actions they say contradict the program’s core values of free speech and academic freedom.

Meanwhile, Trump officials have pointed to national security concerns linked to foreign students and researchers. Recently, a Chinese national, Chengxuan Han, was arrested for allegedly smuggling biological materials from Wuhan University to the University of Michigan. Authorities warn this case is part of a broader security threat involving espionage and illicit technology transfer, highlighting vulnerabilities within U.S. research institutions. Additionally, reports from Stanford University have exposed alleged Chinese espionage networks on campus, further fueling the debate over foreign influence in American academia. The Fulbright Board’s mass resignation and these security incidents underscore ongoing tensions over how to balance international academic exchange with safeguarding national interests.