Comment on FR Doc # 2026-13248
Miriam StarkOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter, a former director of a Title VI National Resource Center and Foreign Language Area Studies awardee, opposes the rescission of the International Education Programs (IFLE). They argue that the program is vital for national security, cultural understanding, and preparing a global workforce, and that its removal would leave the country with a less-informed citizenry.
As a former director of a Title VI National Resource Center and Foreign Language Area Studies awardee, I object strongly to the Department of Education's proposal to rescind the IFLE programs. These IFLE programs have helped thousands of students complete their education while learning foreign languages and becoming global citizens. Rescinding the IFLE program will further parochialize our country in an increasingly dangerous world, where missteps can lead to untold numbers of deaths. Killing international education at DOE will not only prevent many talented young people from completing their education. It will leave the government and our country with a profoundly ignorant workforce whose decision-making could imperil the nation. IFLE constitutes a relatively minor amount of government funding relative to its huge impact on our country's next generation. If the DOE Secretary is not interested in helping us train global citizens, I urge her to at least consider how cancelling IFLE would adversely affect national security. We need educated citizens who can speak other languages and understand other cultures. Without them we may well find ourselves in future morasses that are difficult to depart: all because we did not understand the people on the other side of the table. Viewing them as potential friends, rather than as adversaries, requires training, cultural knowledge, and linguistic skills. IFLE has provided all of these at very little cost. Please DO NOT RESCIND the IFLE programs.