The US House Appropriations Committee's budget allocation act, released mid-week, outlines this proposed funding. At least 273.4 million USD is earmarked for the Fulbright program, which provides full master's scholarships for international students. Additionally, 99.7 million USD will be allocated to the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for foreign leaders and diplomats.

Furthermore, at least 35.6 million USD is designated for youth leadership initiatives, including the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) scholarship program.

Vietnamese students participating in a master's program in the US with a Fulbright scholarship. Photo: U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam.

Although the total proposed budget is lower than the 741 million USD allocated in fiscal year 2024 and the 700.95 million USD included in last year's bill, experts view this as a strong commitment from the government to maintain these exchange programs.

Christian Sandberg, an international education advisor, told The Pie News that this proposal signals a positive development following recent instability.

This follows a sudden announcement last summer by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which canceled 100 million USD in funding for 22 government educational and cultural exchange activities, including YSEALI. The ECA cited "lower funding priority in the current financial climate" as the reason for the cancellations.

Mark Overmann, executive director of the Alliance for International Exchange, an organization with 13 affected programs, stated that the cancellations could lead to employee furloughs, layoffs, or even organizational closures.

Bill Gertz, president of the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS), added that the funding cuts impacted the "plans and dreams" of 10,000 students.

The bill for fiscal year 2026, which runs from 1/10/2025 to 30/9/2026, awaits a vote in the US Senate.

Among the various US exchange and study abroad programs, the Fulbright scholarship stands out. Established in 1946, the program began awarding scholarships to Vietnamese students in 1992, providing approximately 20 grants annually.

Khanh Linh