More than 80 Afghan women who fled the Taliban regime to study in Oman are facing imminent deportation to Afghanistan after their U.S.-funded scholarship was canceled as part of the Trump administration’s cuts to foreign aid. The decision to terminate the scholarship program was communicated to the students in an email on Feb. 28 by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Afghan students are appealing for urgent help to continue their studies abroad as they fear facing persecution, insecurity, and a lack of opportunities if forced to return to Afghanistan.
The Women’s Scholarship Endowment program, which was launched in 2019 with a $50 million endowment from USAID, covered the educational expenses of female scholars in Oman. Despite the program being funded by interest from the endowment and not requiring additional annual funding from the U.S. government, the Trump administration decided to cancel it along with other foreign aid initiatives.
Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, they have imposed harsh restrictions on women, including banning them from education and employment. Rep. Seth Moulton called the cancellation of the scholarship program “shameful” and urged the Trump administration to reconsider its decision, highlighting the potentially life-threatening consequences for the Afghan students. Nonprofit groups are working with the government of Oman to find a solution that will prevent the deportation of the affected students.
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