House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has issued a letter to the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, demanding immediate action to address what she describes as a “troubling pattern of political imbalance” in the foundation’s scholarship award process.
The Congresswoman also specifically called for the rescission of a 2025 scholarship awarded to a recipient she alleges is “pro-Hamas and antisemitic.”
Chairwoman Stefanik’s concerns are fueled by recent data-driven analyses that suggest a systemic underrepresentation of students with conservative values among Truman Scholarship recipients. In her letter, she urges the Board to proactively initiate a comprehensive review of its current recruitment, nomination, and selection practices.
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“As a recently appointed Board member of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, I call on my fellow Board members to uphold the integrity and nonpartisan mission the Truman Foundation was founded on,” Chairwoman Stefanik stated. “The Truman Scholarship was created to support future public service leaders, yet the data reveals a disturbing ideological litmus test that effectively sidelines talented students who hold mainstream conservative values.”
A joint investigation by The College Fix and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) found a significant disparity, reporting that liberal-leaning scholars have outnumbered conservatives by a ratio of more than 10:1 between 2021 and 2023. According to AEI’s analysis of 182 recipients awarded since 2015, only six expressed any interest in causes generally aligned with right-of-center principles, with even those identifying as moderates or independents. Notably, none indicated support for President Donald Trump or conservative priorities such as defending the Second Amendment, advancing pro-life policies, or protecting religious liberty.
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In stark contrast, the report indicates that the Truman Foundation has granted scholarships to at least 74 recipients explicitly committed to left-leaning causes, including “climate change,” “racial justice and DEI,” “LGBTQ+ issues,” and “immigration rights.”
Beyond the broader ideological concerns, Chairwoman Stefanik also highlighted the case of 2025 Truman Scholar Eva Frazier. Stefanik alleges that Frazier “publicly espoused support for Hamas, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization.” According to Stefanik, this position is “not only inconsistent with the values of public service and moral clarity but also deeply offensive to many Americans and members of the Jewish community.”
Stefanik specifically referenced Frazier’s alleged leadership in a student organization that co-signed a joint letter to Harvard, stating Israel was “entirely responsible” for the October 7th attack by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 innocent people and the kidnapping of over 250. Stefanik asserted, “There is zero explanation for this besides pure antisemitic hatred.”
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“I strongly urge the Truman Foundation to rescind the 2025 scholarship of a pro-Hamas, antisemitic recipient,” added Chairwoman Stefanik. “This recipient does not embody the core values of the Truman Foundation, and the selection reflects poorly on the institution and deeply undermines its credibility. As an organization funded by taxpayers and tasked with promoting the common good, the Truman Foundation must ensure that its honorees represent the highest ideals of public service, integrity, and American values.”
Stefanik’s current request echoes a similar letter sent last year by then-Education and Workforce Committee Chairwoman Dr. Virginia Foxx, whose concerns, according to Stefanik, were inadequately addressed by the Foundation’s leadership.
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