Washington, D.C
Pause on student visas causes concern among some DC education programs
Pause on student visas causes concern for DC education programs
A D.C.-based non-profit is among the organizations scrambling to support international students who may no longer be able to obtain a visa. Last week, the Trump administration paused new student visa interviews. FOX 5’s Shirin Rajaee is live with more on the impacts.
WASHINGTON – A Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit is among the many organizations facing uncertainty as the Trump administration places a temporary pause on new student visa interviews, leaving international students — some just days away from beginning summer internships in the capital — in limbo.
Last week, the U.S. State Department halted visa interviews for prospective international students, citing potential changes in social media vetting procedures.
While the administration frames the pause as a matter of national security, education leaders and students warn of significant and far-reaching consequences.
Local perspective:
One of the affected organizations is The Fund for American Studies (TFAS), a non-profit that has operated since 1967. Each summer, TFAS brings together around 300 students for internship programs in areas ranging from Capitol Hill and Fortune 500 companies to journalism and public policy.
Many of the participants are international students, selected through a competitive process for their academic excellence and leadership potential. These students also complete coursework through George Mason University.
Now, dozens of those selected international students may not be able to attend.
“It’s disappointing,” said TFAS Chief Operating Officer Steve Slattery. “They’re telling us that they don’t know if they’re going to be able to come here because they need this interview at the embassy. Usually that’s the last hurdle, and often times there was a backlog for these interviews, so yes, there’s anxiety.”
The backstory:
The Trump administration has ordered U.S. embassies worldwide to pause issuing new student visa interview appointments. The White House is reportedly considering expanding social media screening for applicants. However, no clear guidelines have been issued regarding the criteria for approval or the length of the delay.
“As far as I know, they’re vetted pretty vigorously,” Slattery added. “We vet them through our process. Embassies do their own interviews and scrutiny of applicants.”
Mark Vodianyi, a TFAS alumnus and international student from Ukraine currently studying at Georgetown University, says while he is not personally impacted by the pause, he’s concerned about its broader implications.
“Lots of the TFAS alum, they go home and advocate for democracy and civil liberties,” Vodianyi said.
He also emphasized the long-term consequences of limiting access for international students.
“I’m thinking long term, the U.S. is losing a lot in this. International students contribute a lot to the U.S. economy — they support thousands of jobs nationwide.”
What they’re saying:
While the administration insists the move is rooted in national security interests, some of its own officials have made controversial remarks.
Linda McMahon, U.S. secretary of education, stated that, “The president certainly had great concerns that there are foreign students — not everyone — but there are foreign students who come to the country I do believe will help create this unrest.”
TFAS and other educational organizations argue that existing screening processes are already thorough and should not prevent forward progress.
“If they want to screen these students — which they already do — but if they want to do that more tightly, that’s fine,” said Slattery. “But we just want the process to move forward.”
What’s next:
Though the pause has been described as temporary, the State Department has not announced a timeline for resuming visa interviews. Applicants are advised to monitor their local U.S. embassy or consulate websites for updates.
The impact of international students on American society is substantial. From founding major tech companies like Google, Yahoo, and YouTube, to contributing across the healthcare and research sectors, the role of these students extends well beyond academia. And that’s why, for many, this story hits home.
Washington, D.C
How much snow to expect ahead of Sunday’s winter storm
WASHINGTON (7News) — An approaching winter storm will bring significant impacts from the Mid-Atlantic to New England Sunday through Monday morning.
Heaviest snow will favor areas north and east of DC
The good news is, the worst of the storm looks to miss most of the DMV.
The system will intensify as it pulls away from the D.C. metro, with the heaviest snowfall rates developing as the storm exits.
Snowfall model comparison
This means we could see 2 to 5 inches of snow across most of the Capital Beltway, with higher amounts the farther north and east you go.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
A potentially historic blizzard is shaping up right on our doorstep, with snowfall totals of 1 to 2 feet from Philadelphia to southern New England by Monday morning.
Blizzard conditions amounting to 1 to 2 feet are possible from Philly to Boston
Washington, D.C
Vietnam Veterans sue to block proposed ‘Independence Arch’ near Arlington National Cemetery
Memorial Circle, the proposed plot of land near Memorial Bridge where the Independence Arch could be built is seen in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026.
Nathan Howard/AP
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Nathan Howard/AP
A group of Vietnam War veterans and a retired architectural historian have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block construction of a proposed monument near Arlington National Cemetery.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges President Trump’s plans for “Independence Arch,” a 250-foot structure proposed for Memorial Circle.
The plaintiffs, represented by Public Citizen Litigation Group, call the proposed plan a “vanity project” that would disrupt one of Washington’s most symbolically charged sightlines between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, a view designed to evoke national unity after the Civil War.

Vietnam veterans Michael Lemmon, Shaun Byrnes and Jon Gundersen believe the structure would “dishonor their military and foreign service” by intruding on a solemn view they visit regularly, according to the complaint.
The arch could also “pose a hazard to air travel at nearby Reagan National Airport,” the plaintiffs argue. At 250 feet, the proposed arch would stand more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial and sit directly on the ceremonial axis that anchors the capital’s monumental core.
The lawsuit names Trump, senior White House officials and the National Park Service (NPS) as defendants. It alleges the plan violates multiple federal laws, including the Commemorative Works Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.
NPR reached out to the White House and NPS for comment about the lawsuit but have not received a response.
Administration officials have framed the proposal as part of a broader effort to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary with new monuments and public works projects highlighting American history and military service.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement to The Washington Post the arch “will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history.”
Ingle also said Trump “will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth America the glory it deserves.”
The plaintiffs also argue that approval has not been granted and that required environmental and historic preservation reviews have not been completed. Under the Commemorative Works Act, memorials built on federal land in Washington generally require authorization from Congress.
Legal opposition to the project follows a separate lawsuit by the National Trust for Historic Preservation over plans for a privately funded ballroom in place of the White House East Wing.
Washington, D.C
Who foots the $20M bill of the Potomac River sewage cleanup, repairs? – WTOP News
The cost of cleaning up and making repairs after a sewer line failure sent hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River will total around $20 million.
The cost of cleaning up and making repairs after a sewer line failure sent hundreds of millions of gallons of sewage into the Potomac River will total about $20 million, the CEO of D.C. Water said Friday.
David Gadis provided the estimate during a briefing on the Jan. 19 failure of the Potomac Interceptor, a roughly 60-year-old, 54-mile long sewer line. The pipe failed in Cabin John, Maryland.
It’s not entirely clear how the cost will be covered.
Earlier this week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser submitted a Presidential Emergency Disaster Declaration request, seeking full reimbursement for costs incurred by both D.C. and D.C. Water.
“We expect 100% reimbursement,” Bowser said.
But D.C. Water’s facilities, including the Potomac Interceptor, are funded through an intermunicipal agreement, or IMA. Maryland and Virginia would be on the hook for more than 50% of the cost, per the agreement.
So will the federal government approve D.C.’s request? And if so, will Maryland and Virginia’s share be covered too?
“If the president wants to help Americans who deserve to know that the Potomac River is safe, it doesn’t matter, in my estimation, if it comes through D.C. to D.C. Water, because D.C. Water serves D.C., Maryland and Virginia. It’s kind of hard to parse it out,” Bowser said. “We are happy to be the conduit for the region.”
President Donald Trump also weighed in this week on social media, saying the three jurisdictions needed to work collaboratively. He called out Maryland Gov. Wes Moore by name.
“If they can’t do the job, they have to call me and ask, politely, to get it fixed,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding the federal government “can fix it.”
According to D.C. Water, the utility’s customers will not face any additional financial strain as a result of the sewage spill. Gadis said there would be no rate increase tied to the incident, and that the utility had already submitted planned rate increases for the future.
Officials also stressed during Friday’s briefing that drinking water was not affected, but said people should avoid recreational contact with the river as a precaution.
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