US Cuts Funding for American University of Afghanistan, Leaving 1,000 Students Uncertain

The United States has officially stopped paying for the American University of Afghanistan, a move that leaves roughly 1,000 students without a stable path to higher education.

The decision was announced via email to students, causing immediate alarm among those who rely on the institution as one of the few remaining spaces for women's academic advancement in the country.

The university opened its doors in 2006 with a commitment from former First Lady Laura Bush to train future leaders, particularly women. At the time, USAID director Patrick Fine noted that while some viewed the project as risky or a waste of money, the Bush administration saw it as a way to stabilize a young democracy and build goodwill for the interim government.

Years later, the funding faced scrutiny when US inspectors investigated the university's finances in 2016. By 2018, reports indicated that poor accounting made it difficult to track exactly how aid money was spent. Former federal inspector John Sopko expressed surprise that funding continued despite these findings. The State Department recently cited this history of repeated lack of accountability for millions of taxpayer dollars as the primary reason for the cut.

Fine rejected the government's explanation as smear tactics. He acknowledged that earlier audits found the university struggling with USAID's extensive rules but stated that they did not find major fraud. He maintained that the university remains a worthy investment because it continues to reach Afghan women in a landscape where few organizations do.

The American government has long been the primary financial backer, covering nearly 90% of costs as of 2018. While the State Department said the university is free to find other partners, the loss of a $25 million grant creates significant uncertainty for its future operations.

For students like Laila, a mid-twenties political science major, the news is devastating. She has been studying in secret through the university's online program since the Taliban seized the campus. Her classmates use aliases and keep their cameras off during lectures, leaving Laila to know them only by their voices. She has been studying from home for years, often worrying that Taliban authorities will search her phone for university emails.

Laila's journey to AUAF was not straightforward. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, she was at another university with only two exams left. After the ban on women's education in December 2022, her degree remained unfinished. She eventually won a scholarship to AUAF and started over. She noted that not every girl had that opportunity, highlighting the rarity of her position.

Fear is a constant companion for Laila and her peers. Some students have received threatening calls and messages. Laila said officials have entered her home several times to search family belongings. She lives with the persistent worry that tomorrow might be her turn to face authorities. The uncertainty of the university's funding adds to her stress, as she wonders if she will be able to finish her degree.

Since learning of the funding cut, Laila has barely left her room. She said she has lost all her motivation and hope. She had expected to graduate years ago and be studying for a master's degree abroad. Now, she is preparing for lectures with the constant doubt that another one may follow. She is now considering that it might take five or ten years for her to find a way forward.