**U.S. Temporarily Suspends New Visa Interviews for Foreign Students Amid Social Media Screening Expansion**

The State Department has paused the scheduling of new visa interviews for international students aiming to study in the United States, as it plans to enhance the scrutiny of their social media activities, officials confirmed. This action is intended to be a temporary measure and does not impact those applicants who have already secured interviews, according to a U.S. official who spoke anonymously about an internal administration directive.

A document obtained by The Associated Press, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines the State Department's intentions to issue new guidelines related to expanded social media vetting. "Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity," the directive states.

Tammy Bruce, a State Department spokesperson, emphasized during a briefing that the U.S. is committed to using all available resources to vet visa applicants comprehensively. "We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that's coming here, whether they are students or otherwise," Bruce said.

This move, initially reported by Politico, is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to tighten regulations on international students. Recently, the administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, a decision that was temporarily blocked by a federal judge following legal challenges.

Earlier this year, the administration also removed the legal status of numerous international students already in the country, compelling some to depart out of fear of deportation. Although student legal statuses were later restored after many won legal battles, the government has since broadened the criteria for revoking such status.

The intensified visa and social media scrutiny originally began under President Donald Trump's tenure and was maintained during President Joe Biden's administration. The current suspension of visa interview scheduling could cause delays, potentially disrupting the plans of students aiming to enroll in summer and fall academic programs.

A decline in international student enrollment could significantly impact university finances, as many institutions have relied on the higher tuition fees paid by foreign students to offset reductions in federal research funding.