Two days after Frida Larios, higher at the University of California, Los Angeles landed in Seoul for a study scholarship, received an email stating that her money was in a vacuum.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a funding for grants in mid -February, affecting long -term international exchange and study programs that connect Americans with the world, including Fulbright and Benjamin A. Gilman, according to several groups supporting international education.
But no one has turned funding, leaving thousands of students and others involved in programs that are worried that they will stick abroad without money or cannot reach scheduled trips at all.
The Foreign Ministry, which finances the programs but does not manage them immediately, did not comment.
Mrs Larios went to Seoul on a Gilman scholarship, intended for students with limited financial means. She was expected to receive about $ 3,000 from the program, which would contribute to her living expenses for her trip.
“The scholarship is the only reason I was able to come abroad because I am a Pell Grant recipient,” Larios said. “I was shocked. Yes. But at the same time. I could feel it was coming.”
The confusion for international programs is a small part of the chaos that is released as the Trump administration takes axes on the spending of the federal government. The administration has argued that it terminates the wasteful costs and the detection of programs driven by the ideologies of the left. Critics have said that cuts and uncertainty reduce America’s influence on the world.
Melissa Torres, president of the Forum for Education Abroad, said that even temporary cessation of funding could “withhold our field’s ability to implement programs”.
“We are asked by students and their families, ‘What is going on? Can we go abroad? What do you do to help my student abroad right now? “He added.” Unfortunately, the answer is: “We don’t know.”
Recipients of the grant, such as Mrs Larios, received only one unclear e -mail from the Institute of International Education, a non -profit organization that manages the Gilman and Fulbright scholarships.
“IIE funding for the Gilman program comes from a US Foreign Ministry award,” the email said. “IIE has not received scheduled cash returns. We have no further information at this time.”
The Institute did not respond to messages on Friday.
Hannah Ferreira, a psychology and political science, are doubled at Middle Tennessee State University, plans to study in Austria in the summer – which would be her first trip to Europe – under the Gilman program. But now she doesn’t know where her journey is.
“This is the first time a presidential action has influenced me so,” Ms Ferreira said.
Mrs Larios said she feels wrong in Seoul. She said she came to everyone who thought she could help her university. She was offered to her student loans, which she was trying to avoid.
“Since I received this email, I have been emphasized for my finances,” Ms Larios said. “I try to spend as little money as possible. They literally live by Ramen.”
Alan They contributed reports.
