Trump admin halts visa interviews, moves to cancel $100 million in Harvard contracts amid crackdown on foreign students

The US State Department has temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students planning to study in the country. The move comes as the department gears up to expand its social media screening process for student and exchange visitor visa applicants.

An internal cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press, instructs consulate sections to pause adding new student visa appointment slots “effective immediately” until further guidance is issued.

Temporary halt doesn’t affect those with scheduled interviews

A US official reportedly clarified that the pause does not affect applicants who already have interviews scheduled. “This is meant to be temporary,” the official added.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce echoed the administration’s focus on security, stating, “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise.”

Colleges may take a hit amid ongoing visa crackdowns

The latest move is part of a wider tightening of rules under the  US President Donald Trump’s administration targeting international students. Just last week, Harvard University lost its authority to enrol international students—a decision that was quickly blocked by a federal judge following legal challenges. 

Earlier this year, the legal status of thousands of foreign students already in the US was also revoked, prompting many to leave out of fear of deportation. Though the government later reinstated their status, officials simultaneously broadened the grounds for future terminations.

A prolonged delay in processing student visas could disrupt plans for international students hoping to join US institutions in the summer or fall terms. This could spell financial trouble for many universities that rely heavily on full-tuition-paying international students to offset reduced federal funding.

Trump administration escalates crackdown on Harvard

Meanwhile, Trump administration on Tuesday directed federal agencies to cancel contracts with Harvard University worth an estimated $100 million, further deepening its conflict with the nation’s oldest and wealthiest academic institution, AP reported.

This comes after the administration already pulled back over $2.6 billion in federal research grants from the Ivy League school, following rising tensions over Harvard’s refusal to comply with demands for changes in its governance and policies.

In a letter issued by the General Services Administration—the agency responsible for overseeing federal contracts and real estate officials instructed departments to review existing contracts with Harvard and pursue alternative options going forward.

Trump has repeatedly criticised Harvard, branding it a hub of liberal ideology and antisemitism. In response, the university filed a lawsuit on April 21 challenging the administration’s push for changes in its leadership structure, admissions process, and tax status. Since then, the government has not only moved to cut Harvard’s international student enrolments but has also threatened its tax-exempt privileges, compounding financial and academic pressures on the institution.