Drooid Logo
Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Trump Cuts Visa Staff, Delays 5,000 J-1 Students

5/20/2026

31 5 Full Breakdown

1 of 1

Story summary
  • President Donald Trump’s tighter scrutiny and a 15 % State Department visa-staff cut have delayed J-1 visas, slowing approvals for about 5,000 seasonal students.
  • The department prioritized World Cup visas, while InterExchange director Steve Simas reports nearly a quarter of this year’s J-1 students still lack appointments.
  • Shoreway Acres Inn manager Greg Ketterer says two Thai J-1 students missed early-May arrivals, forcing overtime for his ten-person staff.