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On June 11, 2025, eleven of the twelve Board members resigned in protest, alleging that the Trump administration "usurped the authority of the Board" and denied Fulbright awards to a substantial number of individuals selected for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The resigning members claimed that political appointees at the U.S. Department of State blocked or delayed awards and subjected over 1,200 foreign finalists to unauthorized ideological screening, with review criteria improperly influenced by applicants’ positions on issues like climate change, race, and gender.
In response, a State Department official dismissed the resignations as "a political stunt attempting to undermine President Trump".
As of September 1, 2025, Carmen Estrada-Schaye, who was appointed in 2022, is the only confirmed member of the Board.
Notable past members include former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh, former U.S. Ambassador James Costos, and political strategist Jen O’Malley Dillon.
The Board's records, including meeting minutes and historical materials, are held by the Special Collections Department at the University of Arkansas Libraries