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
Nurses at Washington D.C.’s largest hospital call on leadership to reverse planned cuts to maternal health
RNs at MedStar Washington Hospital Center say closure of postpartum unit will disproportionately harm marginalized and underserved communities
Union nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) in Washington, D.C. are demanding that management stop the planned closure of an entire postpartum unit, announced National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU). The hospital notified the union on May 26, 2026 of its intention to eliminate 11 maternal health beds and displace eight nurses by July 26, 2026, leaving MWHC with one postpartum unit.
In a follow-up town hall with staff nurses, Chief Nursing Officer Ariam Yitbarek confirmed the closure. Other leaders have additionally informed staff that the hospital will strictly limit scheduled C-sections and inductions for patients from numerous D.C. maternal health organizations. The list of organizations includes many that primarily serve low-income patients, immigrants, and patients of color, all communities with significantly higher risks of maternal mortality. Additionally, staff were informed that Kaiser Permanente, which notably insures a large number of DC city employees and even many of MWHC’s own workers, will see a strict limit on scheduling inductions and C-sections for their patients as well.
“Closing postpartum unit 5F will gravely impact those most affected by health disparities,” said Stephanie Sims-Coates, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit. “Our low-income families and families of color will be most affected by this closure. Families trust the medical staff at MWHC and plan to come to us for their care. In a city where Black women make up 90 percent of pregnancy-related deaths despite being only half the population, the hospital’s decision to close this unit is a significant mistake.”
Community leaders and healthcare workers are joining the call for MedStar to put patients before profits and keep the unit open. This past weekend, nurses met with D.C. mayoral candidate and Ward 4 councilwoman Janeese Lewis George about the planned closure and the impact it would have on DC’s most vulnerable residents.
“Maternal mortality is a crisis for Washington, DC, and our healthcare system needs to address the crisis immediately, rather than exacerbate the challenges that birthing parents face,” said Councilwoman Janeese Lewis George. “Now is the time to invest in health care, rather than make cuts. I want to work with the hospital to identify solutions that work for patients and the provider.”
“In my time at Washington Hospital Center, I’ve seen the hospital tout its Safe Moms, Safe Babies program and host a community baby shower specifically designed to call attention to the maternal mortality crisis,” said Marcqueata “Tiya” Butler, RN in the Mother/Baby unit. “Their current plan to shut down 11 postpartum beds betrays the hospital’s stated commitments. They are aware of persistent inequities in access to care. We are calling on the hospital to consider the impacts on the community, safeguard the mothers and infants of DC and commit to addressing the maternal mortality rate.”
In 2024, MedStar Health, a registered non-profit, reported $9 billion in operating revenue.
NNOC/NNU represents more than 2,200 registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center.
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Tuesday was the last day the D.C. Council could vote to enact an expanded curfew in time for summer.
7News learned it never even made it on the agenda for a discussion and went to council members to find out why.
For the next two months, it’ll be up to the mayor to declare a curfew until the permanent version kicks in. There is already a city curfew. The curfew that has been up for debate for more than a year is the expanded version of the curfew. The expanded version allows the Metropolitan Police Department to create zones where teens 17 and under cannot gather in groups of nine or more.
RELATED | DC curfews pushed large groups into local neighborhoods, some residents say
Mayor Muriel Bowser currently has her own curfew order in place, which ends Saturday. The mayor can continue issuing an order. Councilmembers against the expanded curfew said that’s why it doesn’t need to come from the council.
In a video posted two weeks ago, D.C Council public safety chair Brooke Pinto said she wanted her councilmembers to vote to fill the gap today. 7News asked her why she never presented it to the council.
“Unfortunately, in working with my colleagues over the last several weeks, we did not have the votes,” said Pinto. “We have to have enough votes to pass the law and make sure that we didn’t have a gap.”
Bowser, in a letter to council Tuesday, said councilmembers Trayon White, Robert White, Zachary Parker, Brianne Nadeau and Janese Lewis-George are “blocking the will of the public and majority of council.”
7News spoke to three of the members she called out about the mayor’s pushback.
“I reject the rhetoric and the political games that are being played, and I’m wanting for us to get to the bottom of how do we stop the teen takeovers and the delinquent behavior we’ve been seeing,” Parker said.
“I stand by my belief that a curfew policy is a failed policy, kind of smoke and mirrors, and what we really needed is investments in our young people, so I’m pretty firm on that,” Nadeau said.
“We have to choose our tools and the time we use those tools. I’ve supported the curfew in the past, but I think with the current surge of more federal troops that have been impending, we’re putting our youth in even more danger by extending that work. I know the executive has put in an emergency executive order that will fill the gap. I hope that comes alongside extended hours, I’ve funded at DPR, extended weekends, and opening more safe spaces for youth here in the city. And that’s the solution that we do agree on,” Lewis-George said.
The mayor has not confirmed if she’ll issue another order, but it is on the table.
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