US Cuts Funding to Afghan University

The United States has long shouldered nearly 90 percent of the financial burden for the American University of Afghanistan, a figure that underscores the suddenness of the recent withdrawal of support. As of 2018, American taxpayer dollars accounted for the vast majority of the institution’s budget, making the recent decision to end funding a dramatic shift in the university’s financial structure. This move effectively removes the primary source of sustenance for one of the few remaining places where Afghan women can pursue higher education.

The decision by the State Department was explicitly tied to concerns over financial management. Officials cited a history of repeated lack of accountability regarding millions of dollars in aid. This justification follows a long-standing scrutiny process that began in 2016 when US inspectors opened an investigation into the university’s finances. By 2018, auditors concluded that poor accounting practices made it difficult to track exactly how the aid money was spent, a finding that has now become the central argument for ending the relationship.

For students like Laila, a political science major in her mid-twenties, the news arrived with devastating force. She was one of roughly 1,000 students at the institution, three-quarters of whom are women. With the Taliban controlling the physical campus, Laila and her peers study through an online program in secret. They use aliases and keep their cameras off during lectures, knowing their classmates only by the sound of their voices. The loss of funding threatens this fragile lifeline to a degree.

Laila’s academic journey has been marked by significant interruptions due to the changing political landscape. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, she was at a different university with only two exams remaining. After the new regime banned women’s education in December 2022, her degree was left unfinished. She eventually secured a scholarship to the American University of Afghanistan to start over, a chance she notes was not available to every girl in her situation.

The uncertainty surrounding the university’s future is compounded by the fear that shapes daily life for these students. Laila worries that Taliban authorities might search her phone and discover university emails. She has already experienced home searches by officials, leaving her with a constant anxiety that her turn to be targeted could come at any moment. Some of her peers have also received threatening calls and messages, adding to the precarious nature of their education.

The university was established in 2006 with the explicit goal of training future leaders, particularly women. Former US first lady Laura Bush announced the initial commitment of millions of dollars, framing the project as a way to stabilize a young democracy and build goodwill. However, not everyone in Washington was initially convinced. Patrick Fine, who served as the Afghanistan mission director at USAID, recalled that many within the agency viewed the idea as risky, with some critics considering it a waste of money.

The debate over the university’s value has persisted for years. John Sopko, a former federal inspector who oversaw the financial probe, expressed surprise that funding continued despite the audit findings. Fine rejected the State Department’s reasoning as smear tactics. He acknowledged that the university struggled with USAID’s extensive rules but noted that earlier audits did not find major fraud. He maintains that the institution remains a worthy investment because it continues to reach Afghan women when few other organizations do.

While the university is free to seek other donors, the absence of the $25 million grant that was recently refused leaves its operations in limbo. For Laila, the impact is deeply personal. She has barely left her room since learning of the cut, feeling a loss of all motivation and hope. She had expected to graduate years ago and pursue a master’s degree abroad. Now, she wonders if she might only find a way forward in five or ten years, if at all.

The broader implications of this funding decision extend beyond a single institution. It highlights the shifting priorities of American foreign aid and the challenges of sustaining educational access in a restrictive environment. As the university searches for new partners, the immediate concern for its students remains the possibility that their rare route to a degree may be closed before they can finish.