Nigora Jabborova, a Fulbright Scholar and MBA student, recently highlighted the abrupt termination of her contract by the US Department of State. The decision, which reportedly stems from federal budget cuts, was executed without prior warning or adherence to standard procedures. According to Jabborova, even her sponsoring organisation, the Institute of International Education (IIE), was left uninformed, leaving scholars and administrators in a state of shock and uncertainty.
“With just three months left until my graduation, I now find myself in an extremely difficult position, both professionally and personally,” she shared in a LinkedIn post. “As Fulbright participants, we are not permitted to work outside the program, and the stipend we rely on has been abruptly halted. This has left many of us struggling to cover basic necessities such as rent and food.”
Impact on scholars
The termination coincides with the freezing of funding for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which oversees the Fulbright Program and other international exchanges. Scholars like Jabborova are facing severe financial hardship, while the unexpected cuts threaten the program’s longstanding mission of fostering global collaboration.
Jabborova expressed concerns that this decision could undermine decades of progress in international partnerships. “The Fulbright Program has played a critical role in building diplomatic engagement, and these abrupt measures risk undoing years of effort,” she stated.
Jabborova is now seeking guidance and support from her professional network, urging legal experts, policymakers, and advocates to take action. She encourages outreach through legal channels, policy discussions, and raising awareness to push decision-makers to reconsider the funding freeze.
The termination notice stated, “Your award is being terminated for the convenience of the U.S. government pursuant to a directive from the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for alignment with agency priorities and national interest. The decision to terminate this individual award is a policy determination vested in the Secretary of State.”