George Washington University announced a pause in admissions to five Ph.D. programs, blaming financial constraints and a significant decline in international applicants. The suspension affects select doctoral pipelines and will reshape graduate enrollment plans for affected departments. University officials told faculty the move is a response to tightened budgets and deteriorating demand from overseas students, a trend linked to visa barriers and broader declines in international first‑time enrollment. Johanna Alonso reported the decision, which follows a sectorwide pattern of program retooling as institutions seek to stabilize finances and focus on high‑demand offerings. The suspension highlights the vulnerability of doctoral education to shifts in international mobility and campus revenue models; it also raises immediate questions about funding for research assistants, faculty lines and commitments to current graduate students.