US Scholarship Cuts Threaten Afghan Women’s Studies

In a shocking turn of events, over 120 Afghan women studying in Oman and Qatar under U.S.-funded scholarships faced the imminent threat of deportation to Afghanistan. 

The Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE), a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative supporting Afghan women’s education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), was abruptly terminated as part of sweeping foreign aid cuts initiated by the Trump administration. 

While a reprieve has been granted, the long-term fate of these students remains uncertain. For many of these women, education was their only escape from Taliban rule, which has imposed draconian restrictions on female education and employment. 

The abrupt funding cut, coupled with an order to return to Afghanistan within two weeks, sent shockwaves through the students. 

“We are relieved now, but we are still deeply concerned about our future,” an anonymous student told the reporters.“If the scholarship is not renewed, we will be left with no option but to return to Afghanistan, where we cannot study, and our safety could be under threat as well.” 

Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on women, including banning them from universities

The students had initially fled Afghanistan in 2021 following the Taliban’s takeover. Many continued their education in Afghanistan until December 2022, when the regime formally banned women from universities. 

After spending nearly 18 months in limbo in Pakistan, they secured visas to Oman with USAID’s assistance, arriving between October and November 2024. Their scholarships had been their lifeline until the February announcement, which triggered “shock and tears.” 

Beyond their educational aspirations, the stakes are dangerously high for these women. A staff member from the WSE program had warned of the risks they would face upon return, calling the situation “dangerous and devastating.” 

The Taliban’s restrictions are not just about education but about erasing women from public life altogether. Women in Afghanistan have described their existence under Taliban rule as akin to being “dead bodies moving around.” 

The Taliban has cracked down on protests for women’s rights, with activists facing imprisonment, beatings, and forced disappearances. There are also fears that the returning students could face forced marriages as a form of punishment. 

Trump cut lifesaving foreign aid

The funding cuts were part of a broader freeze on foreign aid initiated under the Trump administration and executed by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. 

The decision has drawn significant criticism, with experts warning that such moves endanger the students and undermine global education initiatives and humanitarian aid programs. 

The situation has also sparked legal battles. A U.S. federal judge ruled that the department’s shutdown of USAID likely violated the U.S. Constitution. 

Judge Theodore Chuang ordered the Trump administration to reverse some of its actions, halting the termination of USAID officials and reinstating former employees’ access to their government email and security systems. 

Reports indicate that USAID’s workforce had been slashed from 10,000 to just 611 employees, leading to widespread program terminations worldwide. 

International advocacy groups have stepped in to urge alternative solutions. Friba Rezayee, executive director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow in Vancouver, has been inundated with messages from Afghan women seeking help.

She expressed fear that without intervention from the international community, these women “may face life-threatening situations if deported back to Afghanistan.” 

Hela Sedeqi, a 19-year-old Afghan student now in Canada,  described the prospect of returning to Afghanistan as “heartbreaking.” Her statement is a stark reminder that for these women, education is not just about personal growth but about survival. 

“We will not let them go back to Afghanistan,” she declared, urging immediate action. 

Organizations such as With Honor are actively negotiating with the Omani government to secure alternative funding, while Canadian non-profits like Right to Learn Afghanistan are pushing for resettlement options. 

As Professor Christina Clark-Kazak from the University of Ottawa noted, securing visas for these students will be difficult due to high rejection rates and Canada’s cap on international study permits. 

For now, the U.S. State Department has extended funding until June 30, 2025, following mounting pressure. While this reprieve offers temporary relief, students remain anxious about what comes next. 

“Returning to Afghanistan would mean the end of our lives,” one student said bluntly. Without a permanent resolution, the fear of forced return will continue to loom over them.