On Monday, 14 April, job offers were rescinded for some students after the administration declared a federal hiring freeze. Some students had potential full-time positions with internships, but because President Trump was seeking to dismantle entire agencies, the interns received notification that they would be terminated. At the same time, billionaire Elon Musk was appointed head of a new department called DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), which is trying to cut down government spending by reducing jobs and programs.

According to Teen Vogue reports, some of these students spent their entire college career preparing for a life of public service, while others didn’t realize the roles they were applying for fell under a federal agency’s jurisdiction. All of them are deeply uncertain and anxious about graduating into a market that is flooded with job seekers.

These two changes have caused major problems for young people wishing to work in the United States. Many students and fresh graduates have faced cancelled or postponed job and internship offers. Some of them have prepared for years and are now confused and worried.

Why This Matters to Indian Students

Big dreams bring thousands of students every year from India into the U.S. They talk about these things in vague terms and mean something entirely different from the intended degree. Millions just want to make a career, get a well-off job, and even settle here. But suddenly things started becoming different, as the federal government just froze recruitment and slashed budgets. The opportunities are tapering, especially in public sector fields such as science, healthcare, research, and public policy.

Because of this, many students who had plans to apply to universities in the U.S. find themselves in a pickle. They question themselves whether going this far is worth it with such uncertain job prospects after this.

Real Stories, Real Worries

When I got to know about this incident on Monday, I called my cousin sister, as she was also planning to move to the U.S. As soon as her board exam ended, she filled up the form for Harvard and Stanford Universities. She was looking forward to just an opportunity.

When I called her and discussed the incident, she was shattered. She was surprised and upset at the same time. She tells me,

"I have been preparing for this for the past few years, and now I am confused whether my decision was right or not. Maybe I have to drop my decision."

As an elder sister, I was heartbroken. I have seen her working hard on her studies and cracking every question that I gave her to solve. She is the bright child of our family, and she has always solved her own problems. For the first time, I saw her taking her steps backwards. I gave her a little confidence,

"Nanna, remember, don't you ever lose the spark that you have within yourself...Work harder and harder to make it worth it.....If all doors close on you, so what...With your determination, open a new one yourself."

She smiled and she again went back, preparing herself for the exam.

Is the American Dream Still Alive?

America is still rich with opportunities, but getting there doesn't seem as easy as it used to be. Nowadays, with Elon Musk leading cost-cutting moves through DOGE and a freeze on hiring by the government, everything has turned upside down-including dreams as international students travel to take up jobs after graduation from public universities.

For all those Indian students dreaming to study in the U.S., don't lose hope. Just be clever about it. Research intensively on the options, plan for finances systematically and keep an alternative always. The American dream hasn't vanished; it may just not look the same now or access may entail a different path.