International exchange has been a big part of our family's life for more than 20 years; we have hosted a couple dozen high school students from a variety of countries. For most of that time, my husband and I have been local coordinators for EF High School Exchange Year, working with local families and students to help ensure the exchange is a mutually beneficial experience.
We have seen first-hand the impact the exchange experience can have on these teens, their host families, and the people whose lives they touch during their exchange. Exchange students go home with a better understanding of the U.S., and often maintain the relationships they develop here. Eliminating the Dept. of State office that manages exchange programs puts the entire concept of exchange at risk.
I can't see any good reason for doing that. Yet that is essentially what the current administration is proposing in its FY2026 budget: a reduction of 93%. If Congress passes this budget proposal, there would not be much left of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the office that oversees exchange programs.
Find out more here at the Alliance for International Exchange. Tell your congressional representatives how you feel!
