Every member of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board has resigned, citing President Donald Trump’s crackdown on the foreign student system as the primary reason. In a letter released Wednesday, the board explained they “voted overwhelmingly” to step down rather than support what they called “unprecedented actions” by the administration. According to the board, these measures violate the law, harm U.S. national interests, and undermine the Fulbright program’s nearly 80-year mission of fostering academic freedom and free speech. The administration reportedly denied Fulbright awards to many selected students for the 2025–2026 academic year and subjected 1,200 recipients to an unauthorized review process, which the board argues contradicts the program’s core values and longstanding bipartisan support.

In response, Trump officials have cited national security concerns related to foreign students and researchers. A recent high-profile case involved Chengxuan Han, a Chinese national arrested for allegedly smuggling biological materials from Wuhan University to the University of Michigan. Authorities warn this is part of a broader threat of espionage and illegal technology transfers within U.S. research institutions. Reports from Stanford University have also exposed alleged Chinese espionage networks on campus, intensifying the debate over foreign influence in American academia. The Fulbright Board’s mass resignation alongside these security incidents highlights the ongoing struggle to balance international academic exchange with protecting national security interests.