More than 80 Afghan women studying higher education in Oman have been ordered to return to Afghanistan following extensive cuts to foreign aid programs by former U.S. President Donald Trump. These women were studying under scholarships funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is now on the verge of termination. Trump and his close associate, Elon Musk, have decided to cut over 90% of foreign aid contracts, severely impacting education and humanitarian programs worldwide.
USAID Scholarships and Their Abrupt Termination
The USAID-funded scholarships were abruptly canceled in January after Trump took office and imposed a freeze on foreign aid. According to reports, a student shared her distress with the media, stating, “It was heartbreaking. Everyone was shocked and crying. We were told that we had to leave within two weeks.”
These scholarships were particularly crucial as they provided opportunities for Afghan women who had been deprived of higher education due to the Taliban’s oppressive policies. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan nearly four years ago, they have imposed severe restrictions on women, including banning them from attending universities.
Impact of Trump’s Foreign Aid Cuts
Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid has sparked legal challenges across the U.S. and internationally. Many humanitarian and education programs have already started to feel the repercussions, particularly those aimed at supporting health systems, nutrition programs, and famine relief in vulnerable countries.
The affected Afghan women in Oman are now preparing to return to their homeland, where they fear for their safety and future. They have made an urgent appeal to the international community for intervention. One student expressed, “We need immediate security, financial assistance, and relocation to a safe country so that we can continue our education.”
The Scholarship Program and Taliban’s Restrictions
These Afghan women were enrolled in Oman under the Women’s Scholarship Endowment (WSE) program, which was launched in 2018 by USAID. The primary goal of this initiative was to empower Afghan women through education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Many of these students had applied for scholarships before the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Initially, some were able to continue their education at Afghan universities until December 2022. However, Taliban authorities soon reinstated a complete ban on women’s higher education.
Fearing for their future, these women fled to Pakistan in September 2023, where they received visas from USAID to continue their education in Oman. Now, with their scholarships revoked and no financial support, they are left with no choice but to return to an uncertain and dangerous future in Afghanistan.
Concerns for the Future of Afghan Women
One of the affected students shared, “It feels like everything has been taken away from me. This is the worst moment of my life. I am extremely stressed right now.”
Many students fear that returning to Afghanistan will expose them to forced marriages, oppression, and potential persecution due to their past activism and educational aspirations. Afghan women describe their current existence as that of “living dead bodies” under the Taliban’s harsh rule, where their freedoms and rights are stripped away.
Taliban’s Justification for Women’s Education Ban
Despite international condemnation, the Taliban continues to defend its restrictive policies on women’s education. According to Taliban leaders, all decisions are based on their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law under the supreme leader’s directives.
Even as the global community urges the Taliban to reconsider their stance on women’s rights, the regime remains rigid in its policies. A student remarked, “Afghanistan has become a place of extreme gender discrimination, where women are deprived of even the most basic rights, including education.”
The termination of USAID scholarships for Afghan women in Oman is a direct consequence of Trump’s foreign aid cuts, leaving dozens of young women vulnerable to a grim future in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Their urgent plea to the international community for intervention, security, and relocation highlights the growing crisis facing Afghan women. Without immediate action, the hope for education and empowerment for Afghan women may be lost for an entire generation.
